Wave of repressions against Crimean Tatars is the basis for introducing new sanctions against Russia – Kuleba

The recent wave of repression by Russian law enforcement agencies against Crimean Tatars in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is the basis for new sanctions against Russia.

Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba stated this at a briefing on Friday in Kyiv.

"Last year, I called on the European Union to introduce a sanction mechanism in response to human rights violations in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. We'll consistently insist that new sanctions be imposed. Therefore, soon, perhaps even today, I will sign these documents. We'll again ask the European Union to impose sanctions against Russia," Kuleba said.

He added that repressions against Crimean Tatars would also be a topic of discussion at the UN General Assembly. According to the Foreign Minister, Ukraine started preparations for communications with the European Union on this issue the day before.

"We're preparing to discuss the situation in the temporarily occupied territories at the UN General Assembly. Therefore, preparations are being made carefully; we're preparing facts and additional arguments. I'm confident that this event will end successfully for Ukraine and become another defeat of Russian diplomacy in the international arena while it attempts to justify its aggression against Ukraine," Kuleba said.

As reported, in the temporarily occupied Crimea on the night of February 17, officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation searched the houses of the Crimean Tatars.

According to available information, the men were detained and charged under Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of a terrorist organization and participation in such an organization). Similar accusations were made by the occupation administration in the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir cases (a Muslim religious organization).

A session of the UN General Assembly will take place on February 23, during which a report on the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine will be presented.