Resolution by the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly on the deterioration of the human rights situation in the regions of Transnistria, Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast
Date: 2017-11-01
Institutions: Euronest Parliamentary Assembly
Subjects: Central and Eastern European countries, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, human rights, local authority, territorial dispute, war








C_2018099EN.01000101.xml










15.3.2018   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 99/1





RESOLUTION
by the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly on the deterioration of the human rights situation in the regions of Transnistria, Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Crimea and parts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast
(2018/C 99/01)
THE EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY,






—


having regard to its previous resolutions on the future of democracy, regional security and the role of civil society,










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having regard to the European Parliament's previous resolutions on the European Neighbourhood Policy, and in particular to its resolutions of 21 January 2016 on Association Agreements/Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine (1), of 5 October 2017 on the cases of Crimean Tatar leaders Akhtem Chiygoz, Ilmi Umerov and the journalist Mykola Semena (2), of 4 February 2016 on the human rights situation in Crimea, in particular of the Crimean Tatars (3), and of 16 March 2017 on the Ukrainian prisoners in Russia and the situation in Crimea (4),










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having regard to the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016,










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having regard to the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights of 25 September 2017 on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine),










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having regard to the Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy of June 2016,










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having regard to international humanitarian law and, in particular, to its provisions on occupied territories and the treatment and protection of civilians,










—


having regard to Rule 9(3) of the Rules of Procedure,










A.


whereas the deterioration of the human rights situation in the regions of Transnistria, Abkhazia, Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia and Crimea and in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast is alarming;










B.


whereas people living in these territories have limited or no access to the justice system; whereas the legitimate authorities have no access to those areas to administer justice;










C.


whereas schoolchildren residing in those territories are often denied the right to receive education in their native language;










D.


whereas the so-called authorities on the ground have manifested a very limited will to effectively allow human rights and basic freedoms to be enjoyed by the local population;










E.


whereas the Russian Federation bears the responsibility for the human rights violations, as it is directly or indirectly influencing the developments in the conflict areas by providing financial, military and economic assistance to the so-called authorities on the ground;










F.


whereas people living in these conflict areas are under constant threat of military conflict or further escalation;










1.


Strongly condemns the persecution and intimidation of those who oppose the pro-Russian regime, which is helping to establish so-called ‘local authorities’ in the conflict areas;










2.


Deplores the fact that the citizens from those regions cannot freely cross the occupation lines and in many cases are unable to return to their homes; points out that in some instances the occupation line, or so-called border, goes through villages or through the property of a single family;










3.


Stands firm in supporting the people living in the conflict areas, and recalls that the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) can be extended to cover those conflict areas, provided that the so-called authorities abide by the laws of the legitimate central government; confirms that the visa-free regime in these countries extends to all citizens, including those who are living in conflict areas, provided that the requirements as regards biometric passports are implemented;










4.


Calls on the Commission to support projects and exchanges aimed at improving people-to-people contacts, as well as those promoting peace-building, conflict resolution, reconciliation and intercultural dialogue;










5.


Calls for a monitoring mission to be established with a view to monitoring the human rights situation in the conflict areas; calls on international human rights observers, including specialised structures of the UN, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe, to explore ways to obtain access to those territories;










6.


Strongly condemns the prevailing practice of transferring detainees to distant regions of Russia, as this severely hinders their communication with their families and the ability of human rights organisations to monitor their wellbeing; calls on the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the EU Delegation to Russia to closely follow the ongoing trials and to pay attention to the treatment of detainees; expresses particular concern at the reported use of punitive psychiatric treatments; expects the EU Delegation, the EEAS and the Member States' embassies to closely follow these proceedings and to seek access to the detainees before, during and after their trials;










7.


Calls on the Russian Federation, which has direct or indirect influence over the so-called ‘local authorities’ in the conflict areas, to ensure that human rights are protected, which is its obligation under international humanitarian law;










8.


Calls on the European Court of Human Rights to consider with the highest possible priority all applications for redress coming from these conflict areas, and the cases of detainees taken from these areas to Russia, as the so-called judicial system in the conflict areas, as well as in Russia, does not provide legal remedies in these cases;










9.


Supports the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine within their internationally recognised borders, and reiterates its condemnation of the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, as well as Russia's ongoing occupation of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia;










10.


Instructs its Co-Presidents to forward this resolution to the President of the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the European External Action Service, and the governments and parliaments of the Member States and of the Eastern Partnership countries.






(1)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0018.

(2)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0382.

(3)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2016)0043.

(4)  Texts adopted, P8_TA(2017)0087.