Russian authorities not taking steps to observe human rights in Crimea – OSCE

The OSCE has said Russia is responsible for ensuring human rights in Crimea, but has also urged Ukraine to work on improving conditions for the Crimean Tatars.

Until Russia in fact controls the peninsula, in accordance with the norms of international law, it must provide complete observance of rights of minorities for all the communities living there, said Astrid Thors, the High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Kyiv on Monday.

There can be no doubt, Crimea is part of Ukraine. The OSCE doesn't recognize the results of any referendum held last year. The OSCE also doesn't recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea, she said.

Thors said she had called for the rights of Crimean Tatars on the peninsula to be ensured on numerous occasions, but Russia has failed to react. She said she was worried that Russia has failed to take action but hoped that its position will change and she would be able to visit Crimea again.

She also called on Ukraine to take a number of measures to improve the conditions of Crimean Tatars. In particular, Thors welcomed the adoption of the law on recognizing the Crimean Tatar people as the indigenous people of Crimea.

She also suggested that legislation is extended to formalize the rights of the Crimean Tatars.