UN General Assembly adopts resolution on Russia's human rights violations in occupied territories of Ukraine

The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution on human rights violations in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has welcomed the decision.

Source: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha on X (Twitter); Ukrinform

Details: The resolution is entitled "Situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol".

The document covers the human rights situation in all territories of Ukraine that have been temporarily occupied by Russia and provides for enhanced monitoring of the systemic violations committed by the Russian occupation administration against the local population.

In addition, the document clearly condemns Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, reaffirms Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and stresses the non-recognition of any attempts to change the status of Ukrainian territories.

The resolution also expresses serious concern about the militarisation of the occupied territories, the forced mobilisation of their residents into the Russian Armed Forces, the persecution of journalists, human rights defenders and civil society representatives, as well as the destruction of cultural heritage, including in Crimea.

Quote: "This year's document has been strengthened with new provisions that directly condemn torture, inhuman treatment and other gross human rights violations suffered by Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians who are being held unlawfully. The resolution builds on the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the crimes of the Russian Federation, which confirm cases of enforced disappearances and torture both in the occupied territories and in Russia itself."

Details: The document further condemns Russia's refusal to provide information about the fate of abducted and captured Ukrainians.

The UN General Assembly has called on Russia to ensure unimpeded access for the ICRC to places where prisoners are being held, to guarantee proper medical care, to carry out a full exchange of prisoners of war, and to release all those who are being held unlawfully, including Crimean Tatars, civilians, political prisoners and journalists.

The UN also demands that Russia immediately cease its aggression and withdraw all its troops from the territory of Ukraine.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has welcomed the adoption of the resolution.

Quote from Sybiha: "Ukraine has initiated this resolution annually since 2016. The document strongly condemns Russia's aggression, reaffirms Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and demands an immediate end to the war and withdrawal of Russian forces. The resolution strengthens international monitoring of grave human rights and humanitarian law violations and underscores the imperative of accountability."

More details: A total of 79 countries voted in favour of the document, 16 were against and 73 abstained. Those voting against included Russia, Belarus, North Korea, China, Iran, Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Sudan, Mali, Zimbabwe, Burundi, the Central African Republic, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Cuba and Nicaragua.

Background: The UN General Assembly adopted a Ukraine-initiated resolution on strengthening international cooperation and minimising the aftermath of the 1986 disaster at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The document was supported by 97 countries. The United States joined Russia and Belarus in voting against it.

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