Criticism of Russia’s military build-up dominates UN session on rights in Ukraine

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GENEVA –

A UN Human Rights Council debate on Ukraine on Wednesday drifted into criticism of Russia’s large-scale military build-up along Ukraine’s border. US and UK officials have expressed support for Ukraine, while a Russian diplomat has completely ignored the issue.

The debate in Geneva was called to discuss the human rights situation in Ukraine.

United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif presented a carefully balanced report on civic space and fundamental freedoms in the country. She criticized the Ukrainian government for restricting the free expression of critical opinions in the media as well as attacks on opposition political parties.

She then turned to the self-proclaimed republics of eastern Ukraine, supported by the Russian government. She criticized the lack of free speech and condemned the arbitrary detention of social media users for expressing their views online.

His most vocal criticisms were directed against Russia and its illegal occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

“We have continued to document violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law. Journalists who expressed dissenting or critical opinions were subjected to surveillance, criminal prosecution, arrests, bans from entering Crimea and expulsion from Crimea, ”she said.

Al-Nashif did not mention the accumulation of around 100,000 Russian soldiers amassed at the Ukrainian border.

But the topic sparked heated debate among the nations attending the council session.

British Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Simon Manley said his country was closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine.

“Russia’s activity poses a threat to Ukrainian and international security. We stand in solidarity with our allies to defend the borders of freedom. We call on Russia to end this distressing and destabilizing behavior, and to respect and protect the human rights of people living in illegally annexed Crimea and uncontrolled eastern Ukraine, ”Manley said.

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Yevheniia Filipenko, echoed these fears.

“If Russia does not defuse its current large-scale military deployment along the Ukrainian border, the impact of a possible invasion will have dire consequences for the security, humanitarian and human rights situation in my country and well beyond, ”noted Filipenko. .

US human rights officer Patrick Elliot has ensured Washington’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

The first secretary of the Russian permanent mission in Geneva, Yaroslav Eremin, did not respond to any of these criticisms. Instead, he expressed concern over Ukraine’s shutdown of Russian language channels and the stigmatization of people working for Russian-language media.

He urged the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to stop including in its reports issues relating to Russian regions.

Belarus was the only country to ally with Russia.

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