In Geneva, Lithuania makes a statement on the human rights situation in Ukraine
On 19 December 2018 the delegation of Lithuania took the floor in the interactive dialogue with the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore on the human rights situation in Ukraine.
In response to the recent quarterly report by the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, Lithuania, together with many other EU Member States and partners, expressed deep concern about widespread systematic human rights violations and continuous shrinking of the civic space in Crimea illegally occupied by Russia and in Donbas region controlled by Russia-backed armed separatist groups. The Permanent Representative of Lithuania Ambassador Andrius Krivas condemned provocative use of force by Russia against Ukrainian naval vessels on 25 November in the Kerch Strait, which violates the fundamental principles of international law and called on Russia to respect its international obligations and to return the captured vessels and their crewmembers. The Lithuanian delegation reiterated Lithuania’s firm support to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
