14 April 2014
MEDIA RELEASE
UWC welcomes PACE resolution condemning Russia’s violation
of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) welcomes the resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) of 10 April 2014 strongly condemning Russia’s violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and suspending the rights of the Russian delegation through the end of the 2014 session.
The resolution entitled “Reconsideration on substantive grounds of the previously ratified credentials of the Russian delegation” responds to calls by the international community, including the UWC, and refers to Russia’s actions as a flagrant violation by a PACE member State of its obligations and commitments.
In a harsh condemnation of Russia’s aggression and disinformation, the PACE resolution reaffirms the real and present threat to global peace and security. Specifically:
6. The Assembly believes that by violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Russia has created a threat to stability and peace in Europe. The annexation of Crimea and the steps leading to it, have set a pattern which is now being followed by other parts of Ukraine, as demonstrated by the developments in Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lugansk since the beginning of the week.
8. The Assembly regrets that reports of alleged and not confirmed violations against the Russian-speaking minority and groundless accusations about the extreme-right nature of the authorities in Kyiv have been used for political purposes by many top officials and members of parliament in the Russian Federation in their public statements.
In consequence, PACE suspended the voting rights of the delegation of the Russian Federation, its right to be represented in the Bureau of the Assembly, the Presidential Committee and the Standing Committee, and its right to participate in election observation missions.
“The international community must intensify its actions in response to Russia’s continued aggression or risk witnessing Russia’s further imperialist expansion into Eastern Ukraine and eventually other parts of Europe,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
