On Thursday, January 15, Prime Minister of
Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with
the President of the PACE Anne Brasseur.
Arseniy Yatsenyuk noted the importance of the
visit of the President of the PACE, because it’s a very difficult time for Ukraine,
in particular due to the aggravation of the situation in the East of Ukraine:
"a number of attacks from the side of the Russian-led terrorists has increased threefold".
The Prime Minister of Ukraine remind of the
tragedy that happened a few days ago near Volnovaha, caused
deaths of 13 civilians and 10 wounded.
"Russia is weak, but it wants to
show the world that it is still strong, using it’s
artillery and it’s terrorists," Arseniy Yatsenyuk said.
He stressed that Ukraine
is trying to find a way out of the situation, but the only strategy to do this
- Minsk agreements - is not met by Russia.
"The only answer that we can give the
Russian-led terrorists and terrorists who have committed a terrible crime in Paris is unity. Unity and
strength," said Arseniy Yatsenyuk.
The Prime Minister discussed with the President
of the PACE the issue of sanctions against the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian
side believes that sanctions against the Russian delegation to the PACE should
be continued in connection with the continuation of Russia's aggressive policy.
As one of the examples of unacceptable behavior
of the RF, the Prime Minister named the illegal detention of citizens of Ukraine
as political prisoners. The Prime Minister called on the President of the PACE to obtain the release of political prisoners, among them the
MP Nadiya Savchenko.
Special attention was paid to the systemic
violation by Russia of human
rights in the Crimea, in particular the
persecution of Crimean Tatars. Arseniy Yatsenyuk called on PACE to pay special
attention to the situation on the occupied Crimea
and on the territories, temporarily controlled by Russian-led terrorists.
