UN General Assembly
2018

Security and human rights go hand in hand. Security cannot be achieved without respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The freedom of the press has been and continues to be vital to peace, justice and human rights for all. I therefore once again urge Russia to release the illegally detained Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. I call on the Myanmar authorities to free the two Reuters journalists Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone. I also call on Russia to immediately release the other 64 Ukrainian political prisoners it has detained, including journalist Roman Sushchenko. I urge nations to adhere to their commitments and obligations under international law and international human rights law, especially with regard to the freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, which have notably deteriorated in the past year.