The UNESCO Executive Board adopted a decision to continue monitoring the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The document is based on the report of the Director General of UNESCO on the situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea in the spheres of UNESCO’s competence.
The report recorded a significant deterioration of the situation: Russia’s destruction of the cultural heritage of Ukraine, in particular the World Heritage Site “The Ancient City of Chersonese Tavriyskyi and its Choir”, massive violations of the rights of the Crimean Tatars, illegal persecution of journalists by the occupation authorities, repression in the field of education, restrictions on the right to study in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages, violations of freedom of religion and other cases of violation of human rights.
The Czech delegation issued a statement on behalf of 44 UNESCO member states, in which it condemned Russia’s actions in Crimea – the persecution of the Crimean Tatars, the destruction of Ukrainian-language education, religious and cultural monuments, as well as the damage to the environment caused by the irresponsible activities of the occupying power.
Delegations of Lithuania, Turkey, Germany, Albania and Chile made separate statements in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as condemning violations of international law by Russia.
The Permanent Representative of Ukraine to UNESCO, Ambassador Vadym Omelchenko, in his statement emphasized the importance of continuing monitoring in the areas of the Organization’s mandate in order to maintain international attention to the situation on the occupied peninsula and counter violations of international law by Russia.
The decision adopted by the Executive Council confirms the steadfast position of the majority of UNESCO member states regarding the protection of international law, human rights and the territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.
