MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on 11th year of the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and the deteriorating human rights situation in occupied Crimea, notably the cases of Iryna Danylovych, Tofik Abdulhaziiev and Amet Suleymanov

B10‑0235/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on 11th year of the occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and the deteriorating human rights situation in occupied Crimea, notably the cases of Iryna Danylovych, Tofik Abdulhaziiev and Amet Suleymanov

(2024/2992(RSP))

The European Parliament,

− having regard to its previous resolutions on Ukraine and Russia,

– having regard to rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. Whereas since February 2014, Crimea has been temporarily occupied by Russia which illegally annexed it, following an unlawful and internationally unrecognized referendum;

B. Whereas since this illegal occupation, Russia has systematically violated the human rights of indigenous peoples in Crimea through military and paramilitary repression, including arbitrary detentions, persecution of minorities, particularly Crimean Tatars, media censorship, forcible nationalization of Ukrainian property, and unlawful conscription into the Russian army, all aimed at forcibly altering Crimea's demographic composition, constituting a war crime under international law;

C. whereas there are over 218 Crimean political prisoners in Russia, 133 of them are Crimean Tatars, 67 political prisoners experience sever health problems, many require immediate medical assistance;

D. Whereas Tofik Abdulhaziiev, a Crimean Tatar activist arrested in 2019 on false terrorism charges whose health deteriorated severely in detention this year, with serious illnesses that legally warrant release under Russian law; whereas Iryna Danylovych, a Crimean nurse and activist, was abducted by FSB officers in 2022, subjected to psychological and physical abuse, sentenced to prison on fabricated charges, and her health has since deteriorated, with cerebral lesions, neurological disorders, while prison authorities deny her medical care; whereas Amet Suleymanov, a Crimean Solidarity journalist with severe heart disease, was sentenced to 12 years in a Russian high-security prison on fabricated terrorism charges, despite needing a heart valve replacement surgery, making his imprisonment a potential death sentence and the UN urging Russia to suspend the sentence and provide necessary medical care.

1. Recalls its severe condemnation of the illegal annexation by Russia of the Crimean peninsula and the commitment of the EU, its Member States and the international community to implement the policy of non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea;

2. Denounces Russia’s actions, including forced conscription, deportations, abductions, Russification, demographic changes, and the persecution of Tatars, along with the militarization of children through a “military-patriotic” education system.

3. Condemns Russia's continuation of the Soviet oppressive legacy, targeting the indigenous Crimean Tatars with politically motivated persecution and systematic efforts to erase their heritage and culture in the temporarily occupied Crimea, echoing the tragic deportation of 1944, recognising that act as genocide.

4. Demands the immediate and unconditional release of Iryna Danylovych, Tofik Abdulhaziiev and Amet Suleymanov and all political prisoners; calls for proper medical treatment for their conditions and accountability for those responsible for their inhumane detention.

5. Calls on the EU in cooperation with the Council of Europe, to support cultural, educational, and media programs to protect the Crimean Tatar culture and language, threatened by forced assimilation under Crimea's illegal occupation.

6. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, Member States, the ICC, the Russian Federation, and the President, Government and Parliament of Ukraine and Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People.