The Ukrainian delegation to the OSCE drew the attention of member states to the persecution of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in the occupied Crimea.
Ukraine's Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna Yevhen Tsymbalyuk spoke about the persecution of the OCU at a meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council, Ukrinform reports.
"According to Metropolitan Klyment of the Crimean Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the number of its religious communities has decreased from 49 in 2014 to six today. That said, the existence of three of them is under direct threat," Tsymbalyuk said.
The Ukrainian diplomat also pointed out that the Russian occupation administration continues to prosecute Crimean Tatars under criminal articles on terrorism - because they disagree with the occupation of the peninsula.
"All these violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Crimea also fall within the competence of the OSCE. We call on the participating states and the OSCE executive structures to pay due attention to this serious challenge in their activities," the permanent representative of Ukraine said.
As reported, Metropolitan Klyment of the Crimean Diocese of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine appealed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in connection with the persecution of the OCU in Russian-occupied Crimea. The video was released during a thematic event on Human Rights in Crimea on the sidelines of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly.