The Ministry of foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its resolute protest to the Russian Federation in connection with the ongoing repressions, unlawful detentions, searches and arrests, and torture and ill-treatment of citizens of Ukraine. This is stated in the statement of the MFA of Ukraine.
“Despite numerous appeals of Ukraine and the international community demanding immediate release of the illegally detained and convicted Ukrainians, the Russian leadership continues the shameful practice of using Ukrainian citizens as hostages of its aggressive policy against our country,” – said in a statement.
Ukrainian diplomats say that a cynical disregard of fundamental human rights and freedoms has transformed law enforcement and the judicial system of the aggressor state in the repressive-punitive tools that contribute to the formation of a new totalitarian regime in Russia.
“The aggressor state continues to ignore its obligations under the Minsk agreements on the exchange of hostages and illegally detained persons according to the principle “all for all”. Although Ukraine came back six captives, their number has not decreased, but rather increased: we now know about the politically motivated content in the state-occupier not less than 17 Ukrainians. Even more of our fellow citizens wrongly detained and arrested in the occupied Crimean Peninsula,” – said in a statement. It is also noted that more than a hundred Ukrainians in appalling conditions are in the occupied districts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions.
The foreign Ministry of Ukraine notes that Russia continues the systematic practice of unjustified refusals to Ukrainian consuls in granting permission to visit the Ukrainian political prisoners.
“There is compelling evidence regarding the systematic use against the citizens of Ukraine who are on the territory of Russia and in the occupied territories, unlawful methods of interrogation, torture, methods of psychological pressure,” the statement said.
In light of all this, Ukraine’s foreign Ministry recommends citizens to refrain from trips to Russia.
“Malicious actions of the Kremlin against the Ukrainian citizens was so unpredictable and threatening that Ukraine have to warn our compatriots against the implementation of the trips on the territory of the Russian Federation on the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory”, – said in a statement.
We will remind, earlier the Russian foreign Minister Pavel Klimkin reported on the preparations for the introduction of a visa regime with Russia.
