ILLEGAL ACTIONS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND OCCUPATION OF THE CRIMEA CAUSE DETERIORATION OF THE SECURITY SITUATION IN THE BLACK AND AZOV SEAS AND BEYOND
Tightening its grip on the illegally occupied Crimean Peninsula, the occupying power commits war crimes, mass violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The human rights situation in the occupied Crimea has dramatically deteriorated: reports confirm the existence of widespread abductions, enforced disappearances, tortures, politically motivated persecution on ethnic and religious grounds, and racial discrimination.
The basic rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, religion and education are being violated, the media are being persecuted and banned. The situation of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people in the occupied peninsula deserves particular attention: the national Crimean Tatars national institutions are banned, numerous of Crimean Tatars who opposed the occupation in Crimea tortured, or expelled from the peninsula.
Illegal conscription to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is being conducted affecting already 21,000 persons. As a result of the active militarization of Crimea, the local population is being replaced by the citizens of the Russian Federation, mainly members of the Russian army and security forces, who have been resettled from the regions of Russia.
Comprehensive militarization of Crimea from pre-school education to active renuclearization of Crimea has far-reaching implications for security situation in the region and beyond
The Russian Federation builds up all components of military forces in Crimea, including the navy and long-range missiles, reproduction of nuclear military facilities, conducts illegal military exercises and closure of maritime areas disruptive for navigation.
By using the occupied peninsula as the main logistical base for the Russian military operations not only in the Black Sea region but in the entire Mediterranean basin, Russia endangers security of the South Europe, the Middle East, and the North Africa.
Multiple illegal military exercises conducted in Crimea and around reflect aggressive military posture towards Ukraine and other Black Sea littoral states, entail considerable long-term negative environmental consequences in the region.
The occupied territories of Ukraine and Georgia had been turned into grey zones inaccessible for verification and inspection activities under the CFE Treaty, Open Skies Treaty, the Vienna Document on Confidence and Security Building Measures and other arms control and non-proliferation regimes. This state of affairs continues to erode military transparency, predictability and trust in the region.
The aggression in hybrid form as regards economy continues: the Russian Federation intentionally disrupts maritime navigation in the Black and Azov seas and the Kerch Strait and illegally exploits natural resources
The increased number of warships and expansion of their operation to the entire territory of the Sea of Azov has implications not only for maritime trade and supplies into Ukraine, but also poses an additional military threat to Ukraine and leads to escalation of security situation in the region.
The occupying state creates artificial obstacles to free commercial navigation and endanger maritime transport in the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov because of the illegal construction of the so-called «Crimean Bridge» by the Russian Federation and increased delays of navigation under the pretext of security checks.
International organisations confirmed the negative impact of the impediment of navigation on the social and economic well-being of people residing in areas located on the coastline of the Sea of Azov.
The involvement of foreign vessels into illegal maritime commercial transportation through the Crimean closed ports plays a negative role in both economic and legal sense.
The resolute response of the international community needed to stabilize the situation in the region and re-establish the compliance with international law
Russia must provide unimpeded access for the international monitoring missions to the peninsula to obtain objective information on the humanitarian and security situation - this issue should be high on the agenda of international negotiations.
The international community should redouble its concerted actions to restore security and full compliance of international law, OSCE fundamental norms and principles in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov region. These efforts must be based on full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, refraining from the threat or use of force, non-intervention in internal affairs, and fulfilment in good faith of obligations under international law.
The international organizations and in particular the OSCE can play a greater role in monitoring and responding to the degrading security and social and economic situation in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea region.
We call on international community to adhere to the policy of non-recognition of the Russian attempted annexation of Crimea and sanction policy against the occupying power.