Today in Kyiv, a rally of solidarity with Crimeans who are experiencing political and religious persecution
According to the organizers, released political prisoners, Crimean journalists and public figures, representatives of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, state authorities, and Human Rights Defenders will address the residents of Crimea with words of support, Radio Svoboda (Liberty) reports.
Organizers of the event: Crimean human rights group, ZMINA, Center for civic education "Almenda", House of Human Rights" Crimea", NGO" KrymSOS", Center for Civil Liberties, Ukrainian Helsinki human rights Union, Crimean Center for business and cultural cooperation" Ukrainian House", NGO" Euromaidan-Crimea", Regional Center for Human Rights, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Association of relatives of political prisoners of the Kremlin, Regional Council of Ukrainians of Crimea.
As Risu has repeatedly reported, information about the illegal activities of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories, in particular regarding illegal searches and detentions, was submitted by Ukraine on February 23, 2021, for consideration by the UN General Assembly during the debate on the agenda item" the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine".
Ukrainian diplomats called on international partners to give a proper assessment of the illegal actions of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
"Religion is a weapon for Russia and part of the security policy of the Russian Federation. Those who integrate into the system and support the Russian Orthodox Church have a chance of survival. All those who have a different worldview and do not support the actions of the invaders are destroyed. This was the case with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, whose last Church was closed on the Crimean Peninsula, and representatives of Hizb ut-Tahrir, Jehovah's witnesses, Greek Catholics and others are being persecuted in the temporarily occupied territories," said Ihor Yaremenko, Deputy Minister for the reintegration of TOT of Ukraine.
According to him, Russia uses religion as "a weapon in its hybrid war against Ukraine, along with armed aggression and information warfare." Therefore, the Ukrainian side will seek tougher sanctions for the Russian Federation for religious persecution in the international arena. The tightening of sanctions is a response to Russia's religious aggression in Crimea and the Donbas. They should be applied to those who are behind religious persecution.
