06 March, 2022

Russia and Ukraine

The Russian action in Ukraine has been rightly condemned by the British government and by most other governments, international bodies, non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International, and by individual opinion worldwide.

The United Nations General Assembly has demanded Russian withdrawal from Ukraine - General Assembly resolution demands end to Russian offensive in Ukraine | | UN News - and the United Nations Human Rights Council is establishing a Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine - Human Rights Council to establish Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine | | UN News

Links to the wide-ranging actions taken by other bodies are in this post on my Law and Lawyers blog - Conflict in Ukraine (3) - Reaction - UN, Council of Europe, EU, ICC, ICJ (obiterj.blogspot.com)

Crimea:

Since the occupation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 there have been - 

  • allegations of human rights abuses by Russia against the Tatar people in Crimea

and

  • allegations by Russia concerning human rights abuses by Ukraine and also removal of water supply to Crimea.

Tatar people:

In 2021, the UK government

issued a statement referring to the systematic prosecution of Crimean Tatars by the "Russian de-facto authorities" with individuals "subject to frequent intimidation, house raids, and arbitrary arrests."

Russia’s ongoing violations of human rights in illegally annexed Crimea, Ukraine: UK statement - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Allegations made by Russia:

Lack of water supply to Crimea was raised, along with other serious allegations, by Russia in an inter-State action at the European Court of Human Rights - Russia v. Ukraine with inter state application. Allegations of murder, kidnapping, etc. Request for interim measures and rejection for lack of serious threat and risk of irreparable damage - ECHRCaseLaw

The application was considered in an article published by the European Journal of International Law (EJIL: Talk!) in August 2021 - The Proceedings Flow While Water Does Not: Russia’s Claims Concerning the North Crimean Canal in Strasbourg – EJIL: Talk! (ejiltalk.org)

It is now reported that Russian Forces have destroyed the dam and that the North Crimean Canal is receiving water - North Crimean Canal Fills With Water After Russian Forces Destroyed Dam - The Moscow Times

Backgrounder: The Water Crisis in Crimea | Geopolitical Monitor

6 March 2022

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