Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly protests against a new wave of illegal searches and detentions of Crimean Tatars today, by Russia’s occupation administration in the Bakhchysarai district of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

As of now, at least four Ukrainian citizens – Amet Suleimanov, Seitumer Seitumerov, Osman Seitumerov and Rustem Seitumerov – are reported to have been detained.

By neglecting its duties as an occupying power under international law, Russia continues to treat the indigenous Crimean Tatars as a threat to its ongoing occupation. It is extremely aggravating that in conducting its policy of repression, it abuses once again its anti-terrorist law by fabricating accusations of terrorism to purge Crimean Tatar activists.

Such actions contradict Moscow’s declarations urging for de-escalation in bilateral relations.

Russia must observe the UN General Assembly Resolution 68/262 of March 27, 2014, on the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine and further 2016-2019 Resolutions on the Situation of Human Rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine), as well as the International Court of Justice Order on provisional measures in the Case of Ukraine vs. the Russian Federation on the Application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

We call on our international partners to increase political, economic and sanction pressure on Russia as the aggressor to prevent it from instigating further violations of human rights in the temporarily occupied Crimea.