MOSCOW, July 3 (RIA Novosti) - Despite the ongoing crisis, Ukraine is still part of the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and international treaties, yet is failing to fulfill its obligations, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law Konstantin Dolgov said Thursday.
“Regardless of the events that happened in Ukraine – starting with the unconstitutional coup, Euromaidan, and the following presidential election – Ukraine is still part of the international organizations. It didn’t walk out of the OSCE, European Council or UN, and Ukrainian representatives continue working in these organizations,” Dolgov said while speaking at the Federation Council on Thursday.
“Because Ukraine is part of these organizations, it should continue bearing its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on Minority Rights. Most of these obligations are not fulfilled, [but] violated,” Dolgov stressed.
A number of southeastern regions in Ukraine have never recognized the legitimacy of the new authorities that took over Kiev after the February 22 regime change. Locals started protests and held referendums on self-determination, voting to separate from Ukraine. In return Kiev launched a special military operation to crack down on the independence supporters.
A week-long ceasefire was announced by Ukraine’s new President Petro Poroshenko on June 20 and then was extended for additional three days. As the truce was called off without a further extension on July 1, the active phase of the special operation in the restive regions resumed. The first victims have already been reported in airstrikes and artillery attacks launched by pro-Kiev forces against independence supporters in the east.
