MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION in Crimea, in particular of the Crimean Tatars

2.2.2016 - (2016/2556(RSP))

with request for inclusion in the agenda for a debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 135 of the Rules of Procedure

Pier Antonio Panzeri, Elena Valenciano, Josef Weidenholzer, Victor Boştinaru, Arne Lietz, Jo Leinen, Knut Fleckenstein, Eric Andrieu, Nikos Androulakis, Zigmantas Balčytis, Hugues Bayet, Brando Benifei, Goffredo Maria Bettini, Vilija Blinkevičiūtė, Biljana Borzan, Nicola Caputo, Andrea Cozzolino, Andi Cristea, Miriam Dalli, Isabella De Monte, Jonás Fernández, Doru-Claudian Frunzulică, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Enrico Gasbarra, Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg, Neena Gill, Michela Giuffrida, Sylvie Guillaume, Sergio Gutiérrez Prieto, Richard Howitt, Cătălin Sorin Ivan, Afzal Khan, Jeppe Kofod, Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, Javi López, Krystyna Łybacka, Marlene Mizzi, Sorin Moisă, Alessia Maria Mosca, Demetris Papadakis, Emilian Pavel, Vincent Peillon, Pina Picierno, Tonino Picula, Miroslav Poche, Daciana Octavia Sârbu, Renato Soru, Tibor Szanyi, Claudia Tapardel, Marc Tarabella, Marita Ulvskog, Julie Ward, Damiano Zoffoli on behalf of the S&D Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B8-0173/2016

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B8‑0184/2016

European Parliament resolution on Crimea, in particular of the Crimean Tatars

(2016/2556(RSP))

The European Parliament,

-   having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Ukraine and Russia,

 

-   having regard to the European Convention of Human Rights, to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,

 

-   having regard to the international humanitarian law and, in particular, to its provisions on occupied territories,

 

-   having regard to the European Council conclusions of 20 March 2014 and 19 March 2015,

 

-   having regard to the OSCE/ODIHR and OSCE/HCNM report of the Human Rights Assessment Mission on Crimea of 17 September 2015,

 

-   having regard to Rule 135 of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

A. Whereas several international organisations and human rights groups denounce the fact that human rights protections in Crimea has been severely curtailed since the occupation and illegal annexation of the peninsula by the Russian Federation in early 2014;

 

B.   Whereas targeted abuses have been registered against the Tatar community, the majority of which opposed the Russian takeover and boycotted the so-called referendum on 16 March 2014; whereas these abuses include abduction, forced disappearance, violence, torture and extrajudicial killings that the de facto authorities failed to investigate and prosecute;

 

C.   Whereas individuals who declined to assume the Russian citizenship after the annexation experience discrimination and serious difficulties in all areas of political, social and economic life;

 

D.  Whereas the Russian authorities misuse the anti-extremism legislation targeting individuals and organisations, including in Russia proper, who express freely their opinion about the occupation status of Crimea in internet and social media; whereas the de facto authorities of Crimea use the same provisions of the Russian Federation criminal law for the purpose of intimidating pro-Ukrainian activists, journalists and Tatar community members;

 

E.  Whereas Ukrainian and Tatar media outlets, including the Crimean Tatar television channel ATR, were silenced; whereas several journalists and bloggers have fled Crimea, fearing persecution;

 

F.  Whereas both the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar language and culture are losing their position in schools and universities throughout Crimea; whereas individuals who use the Ukrainian language in public often face intimidation;

 

G.  Whereas, in August 2015, a Russian military court sentenced Oleg Sentsov, Ukrainian filmmaker from Crimea, and Olexander Kolchenko, Crimean activist, to 20 and 10 years of imprisonment respectively for alleged participation in a terrorist organization;

 

1.  Strongly reiterates its condemnation of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and stresses its commitment to the non-recognition policy;

 

2. Recalls that the Russian Federation as an occupying power has the responsibility to ensure the safety of all population and the respect of human, cultural, and religious rights of the indigenous Tatars and all other minorities of Crimea;

 

3. Urges the Russian and the de facto local authorities to effectively, impartially and transparently investigate all allegations of human rights abuses by the police and paramilitary forces active in the peninsula since February 2014;

 

4. Condemns the severe restrictions to the freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, including on the occasion of traditional commemorative events and cultural gatherings of the Crimean Tatars; stresses that, in line with international law, the Tatars, as indigenous people of Crimea, have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions; calls for the respect of the Mejlis, as legitimate representation of the Crimean Tatar community, and the avoidance of harassment and systematic persecution of its members; notes with equal concern the restrictive re-registration requirements for media outlets, as well as for civil society organizations;

 

5. Repudiates all actions that target members of the Crimean Tatar community under the pretext of combating extremism or terrorism; calls on the Russian Federation to immediately release Oleg Sentsov and Oleksandr Kolchenko and to guarantee their safe return to Ukraine;

 

6. Calls for the preservation of the multicultural character of Crimea and for full respect of the Ukrainian, Tatar and any other minority language and distinct culture;

 

7. Stresses the need for systematic independent monitoring of the human rights situation in Crimea by impartial international bodies; in this context, welcomes the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR) mission to Crimea on January 25, the first after the Russian annexation, that will provide a fresh assessment of the situation on the ground; urges the Russian and the de facto local authorities to grant unimpeded access to Crimea and Sevastopol for international institutions, independent experts, human rights organisations; calls on the European Union's Special Representative for Human Rights to pay particular attention to the human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula;

 

8. Condemns the fact that exiled Crimean Tatars have organised a long-term blockade of roads leading from Ukraine to the Crimean territory and were allegedly involved in the blowing up of power lines that left the peninsula without electricity; urges the Ukrainian authorities to investigate these acts and reminds that the illegal annexation of Crimea does not justify any such acts which have adverse impact on the population living on the Crimean peninsula;

 

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Governments and Parliaments of the Member States, the President, Government and Parliament of the Russian Federation and the President, Government and Parliament of Ukraine, as well as the Council of Europe and the OSCE.