Lithuania’s representative stressed that the report of the UN Office of the High Representative on Human Rights published on 15 April clearly refutes Russia’s inflammatory narrative which it uses to justify its illegal actions in Ukraine. The report states that human rights violations of the ethnic minorities in eastern Ukraine, Crimea and elsewhere in the country were neither widespread nor systematic, and that since the current Government took power at the end of February, tensions have decreased, along with allegations of human rights violations. In this relation she urged Russia to stop spreading disinformation and anti-Ukrainian and anti-European propaganda.
Ambassador Murmokaitė underlined the importance of impartial reporting on human rights situation in Ukraine (HRMMU) as this will help to prevent manipulation of information and expressed support for the work of Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. The mission must continue its work on the entire territory of Ukraine, she said, including Crimea, in order to ensure independent monitoring of human rights situation on the peninsula.
Ukraine’s current Government is set to address a wide range of issues, including human rights violations, language policy, rights of ethnic minorities, decentralization, combatting corruption, and strengthening accountability and the rule of law. Lithuania’s Permanent Representative called on the international community to support Ukrainian Government’s efforts to organize free and fair elections on 25 May.
Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights Ivan Šimonovićhe, who briefed the UN Security Council today, informed that the next report on human rights situation in Ukraine will be issued on 15 May. The meeting was organized at the request of the Lithuanian delegation.
