Ministry of Culture urges international community not to ignore pressure on religious and ethnic communities In Crimea
The Ministry of Culture alleges the breach of the rights of religious and ethnic communities in Crimea by occupation authorities of the Russian Federation. This ministry said it in a statement released on Wednesday, Ukrainian Pravda reports. “The faithful of the Crimean Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate, representatives of indigenous peoples of the peninsula – Crimean Tatars and others, apply to the Ministry of Culture regarding the violation of their rights by occupational authorities of the peninsula. They report constant pressure on the part of authorities, threats to believers, violation of their rights and freedoms, seizure of religious buildings, cultural facilities, unauthorized searches, and more,” goes the statement. “The Ministry of Culture expresses its deep concern over the complexity of the current situation of religious organizations and ethnic communities not affiliated with the occupation authorities of the Crimea, which clearly defined their civic position and confirmed the illegality of the annexation of a part of Ukraine by Russia,” the Ministry emphasizes. “Due to the lack of real instruments in Ukraine to influence the actions of the occupation authorities, we are calling upon the international community and civil society institutions to address this issue and prevent further violations of the rights of religious and ethnic communities occupied Crimea,” the Ministry of Culture notes.
