Russia has repeatedly violated its OSCE commitments through its actions in Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE
Ambassador Holland condemns Russia's repeated violation of its OSCE commitments to non-intervention in internal affairs of others and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms during its years of meddling in Ukraine.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Russia鈥檚 aggression against Ukraine is a clear assault on the foundational principles of the OSCE. The Decalogue of the Helsinki Final Act was adopted by us all in 1975 and underpins the post-World War Two commitment to peace, sovereignty, and cooperation among nations. And yet, despite being one of the founding signatories, Russia has violated the Decalogue鈥檚 principles time and time again.
Russia鈥檚 efforts to illegally annex Crimea in 2014, as well as its subsequent support to proxy groups in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, were a blatant infringement on Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty and territorial integrity. This followed the economic coercion Russia placed on the Ukrainian government in 2013 in a bid to thwart its European integration. Russia鈥檚 actions constitute direct interference in Ukraine鈥檚 internal political processes, with the aim of destabilising the country and hindering its independent decision making.
Russia escalated these violations with its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as it sought to subjugate forcibly its independent neighbour. Russia鈥檚 unprovoked war is a clear effort to dictate Ukraine鈥檚 political alignment, restrict its sovereignty, and deny its people the right to choose their own future free from external coercion.
Collectively, Russia鈥檚 actions violate every single commitment on the non-intervention in the internal affairs of sovereign states detailed within Principle VI of the Decalogue.
Madam Chair, since 2014, the illegitimate Russian authorities in Crimea have engaged in widespread suppression of dissent, targeting journalists, civil society activists, and the indigenous Crimean Tatar community. Reports of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and the silencing of critics through intimidation and harassment reflect an intentional effort to eliminate freedom of expression and quash any opposition to Russia鈥檚 occupation. And since the full-scale invasion in 2022, Russia has spread these tactics to the newly occupied territories, where the civilian population has faced severe restrictions on freedom of movement, freedom of expression, and freedom of religion or belief.
Just last week, the world learned of the death in a Russian prison of Viktoriia Roschyna, a courageous 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist who was reportedly detained for her work documenting life in the occupied Ukrainian territories.聽 Our thoughts are with Viktoriia鈥檚 loved ones, and we condemn the unlawful detention of civilians.
The Moscow Mechanism reports document the widespread and systematic use of torture by Russian authorities, including electrocutions and conflict-related sexual violence.聽 Extrajudicial killings and forced deportations are also documented. These violations of International Humanitarian Law and violations and abuses of International Human Rights Law are further evidence of Russia鈥檚 disregard for its commitments under the Helsinki Final Act, in particular Principle VII, which emphasises respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the rights of minorities.
By undermining Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty and denying fundamental human rights, Russia has over many years picked apart the foundational principles of the OSCE. The UK unequivocally condemns Russia鈥檚 actions and calls on it to immediately end its war of aggression and respect its OSCE commitments.聽 Thank you.