Sweden's statement delivered by Ambassador Mikael Anzén.
Mr President,
Sweden fully aligns itself with the statement made by the European Union.
We would like to thank the Deputy High Commissioner for her update.
It is with great concern that we take part of documentation concerning the increased number of human rights violations and abuses committed against persons living in certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, controlled by Russia-backed armed formations, and in the illegally annexed Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, controlled by the Russian Federation.
The full respect and implementation of the Minsk agreements is key to reaching a peaceful solution. We emphasise Russia’s responsibility in this regard and we call on Russia to exercise its considerable influence over armed formations under its support.
We also stress the need to ensure respect for women’s and LGBTI persons’ full enjoyment of human rights in all territories of Ukraine. Sweden is deeply concerned about reports of attacks against members of the LGBTI community.
The continuing human rights violations committed in Crimea since the illegal annexation by the Russian Federation continue to be of great concern. The situation regarding the right to freedom of expression and assembly, the freedom of movement as well as the freedom of religion or belief is worsening.
We are deeply concerned about the escalation in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait. The obstruction of maritime traffic through the Kerch Strait to and from Ukrainian ports, with the use of military force, is a serious violation of international law, that we condemn.
As a first step, detained crew members and naval vessels should be immediately and unconditionally released.
This violation of international law comes against the backdrop of the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol in 2014, and the finalization of the bridge across the Kerch Strait earlier this year, both blatant violations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
I would like to finish by expressing Sweden’s continuing support for the OHCHR Human Rights Monitoring Mission and their invaluable reports. The Mission, as well as all other international human rights observers and monitoring mechanisms, must be granted immediate access to Crimea, as set out in UN General Assembly resolution 71/205 and resolution 72/190 on the situation of human rights in Crimea and Sevastopol.