UN General Assembly condemns violation of human rights in Crimea
On December 22, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on the violation of human rights in the Crimea annexed by Russia. In particular, the General Assembly condemned the "illegal establishment of laws, jurisdiction and administration" in the region. The document submitted by Ukraine was backed by 67 countries, the permanent representative of Ukraine to the UN, Volodymyr Yelchenko wrote on his Twitter page. 27 states, including Russia, Belarus, China, India, Serbia, Syria, the Republic of South Africa, Nicaragua and Venezuela, voted against the document. 70 countries abstained. In 2016 and 2017, the UN General Assembly already adopted similar documents on the human rights in Crimea and Sevastopol. The resolutions condemned "abuses of human rights and discriminatory measures" by "the Russian authorities" on the annexed peninsula.
On December 17, 2018, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on "the Russian militarization of the Crimea and regions of the Black and Azov Seas" proposed by Ukraine. The document claims that the presence of Russian troops on the annexed peninsula "contradicts the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
In addition, the members of the UN General Assembly condemned the "increasing military presence of the Russian Federation" in parts of the Black and Azov Seas, including the Kerch Strait, as well as Russian-imposed "restrictions on international shipping" in the region.