ECHR holds oral hearings in Ukraine v. Russia case on Crimea

The European Court of Human Rights held oral hearings on the merits of the interstate case "Ukraine v. Russia" on Crimea. UNN reports this with reference to Ministry of Justice.

"Today, December 13, 2023, oral hearings on the admissibility and merits of the interstate case Ukraine v. Russia under Nos. 20958/14 and 38334/18 took place at the premises of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg," the statement said.

It is reported that the delegation of Ukraine, headed by Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Iryna Mudra and Commissioner for the European Court of Human Rights Margarita Sokorenko, together with Ben Emerson QC, presented the position of the Government of Ukraine in the case and provided comprehensive information on the questions of the ECHR judges during the oral hearings.

During the oral hearings, Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Iryna Mudra stated: "Russia is responsible before this Court for human rights violations committed by its own forces, as well as for violations committed by its local subordinates, starting from the day of the coup d'état. She is responsible not only for the acts of physical violence that occurred in the weeks following the coup d'état, but also for the campaign of political repression subsequently imposed by her proxy regime in Crimea."

She emphasized that widespread and systematic human rights violations committed by Russia and its proxies in Crimea have been directed from the outset against ethnic and religious minorities, pro-Ukrainian activists and journalists, members of the Ukrainian armed forces, and all those individuals, groups and organizations that opposed the Russian occupation or were perceived to oppose the Russian occupation.

"Since the beginning of the occupation of Crimea in 2014, the human rights situation in the occupied territory of Crimea has been deteriorating year by year. The victims of the occupation authorities cannot protect their violated rights and receive compensation as a result of the illegal and barbaric actions of the Russian occupiers. Moreover, Russia refuses to cooperate with any party in the investigation of human rights violations in the occupied territories of Ukraine, which significantly exacerbates the already disappointing situation with their observance," said Margarita Sokorenko, Commissioner for the European Court of Human Rights, during the oral hearings.

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She noted that taking into account the statements and evidence provided by Ukraine over the past 9 years, including today's statements during the oral hearings, the Ukrainian government asks the ECHR to find Russia responsible for violations of human rights guaranteed by the Convention, which are being considered in this interstate case.

"The ECHR's decision on the merits of the complaints regarding Crimea, as well as the decision on the admissibility and merits of the case of political prisoners is currently awaited," the statement said.

Addendum

The case "Ukraine v. Russia (concerning Crimea)" under applications No. 20958/14 and No. 38334/18 concerns violations by Russia in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol of the following articles of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: 2 (Right to life), 3 (Prohibition of torture), 5 (Right to liberty and security of person), 6 (Right to a fair trial), 8 (Right to respect for private and family life), 9 (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion), 10 (Freedom of expression), 11 (Freedom of assembly and association), 14 (Prohibition of discrimination) in conjunction with Articles 3, 8, 9, 10, 11 of the Convention and Article 1 (Protection of property rights) of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention, Article 2 (Freedom of movement) of Protocol No. 4 to the Convention.