Відкритий лист Тимчасового повіреного у справах України в Південно-Афіриканській Республіці Любові Абравітової до редакції Diplomatic Society у зв’язку з публікацією “Crimea: Pearl of the Black Sea” (мовою оригіналу).

Dear Mr. Editor and the esteemed readers of The Diplomatic Society,

I must admit that the piece in September issue of The Diplomatic Society “Crimea: Pearl of the Black Sea” was very informative.

At the same time I am deeply disappointed that such a credible Edition has ignored the fact that the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is integral part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders in accordance with the norms and principles of international law, the Constitution of Ukraine, and numerous bi- and multilateral treaties that both Ukraine and the Russian Federation are parties thereto. The true pearl of the Black Sea and whole Europe was illegally annexed by Russia on 21 March 2014.

The Russian Federation flagrantly disregards the sovereignty of Ukraine and international law, in particular, the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act of 1975, Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons of 1994.

UN resolutions on the territorial integrity of Ukraine, supportive decisions from other influential international organisations, lasting sanctions pressure on the aggressor state – Russian Federation, confirm the international community’s adherence to non-recognising Crimea’s annexation.

I would like to draw Your attention to the crimes of Russian regime in occupied Crimea documented by both the UN’s and the Council of Europe’s commissioners for human rights. These include disappearances, killings, discrimination, ill-treatment, abuses of freedom of expression, politically motivated prosecutions, seizure of property, transfer of part of civilian population of the Russian Federation into Crimea and of part of the population of Crimea outside the territory, and, finally, the harassment of the Crimean Tatar population.

While the international community urges Russia, as the occupying power, to uphold its obligations under international law, The Diplomatic Society is inviting its readers to visit Crimea – “a unique region of Russia”…

In conclusion I would like to emphasize that foreigners intending to visit the occupied territory of Ukraine – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, according to the Ukrainian legislation, must comply with the valid procedure of visiting the peninsula (https://rsa.mfa.gov.ua/en/press-center/news/66331-nagadujemo-pro-pravila-peretinu-inozemnimi-gromadyanami-adminmezhi-z-okupovanoju-teritorijeju-ukrajini--avtonomnoju-respublikoju-krim).

The edition The Diplomatic Society has always been an unbiased source of information, so I would like to kindly ask You to take all possible measures to be vigilant of misleading propaganda to appear on its pages, as well as to publish this open letter in its next issue.