Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva joined the Ukrainian delegation to participate in the eighth session of the EU-Ukraine Human Rights Dialogue.

Tamila Tasheva spoke during the first part of the discussions, which focused on war crimes committed by the Russian occupation army and violations of international humanitarian law by Russia, the impact of Russian aggression on fundamental human rights, as well as the situation in the temporarily occupied territories.

The Permanent Representative thanked for the opportunity to join this important event and spoke about the work of the Mission in the context of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. She emphasized that after February 24, 2022, the crimes of the occupation administrations became more widespread and arbitrary, including in the occupied Crimea – the number of political prisoners increased to 182, during the full-scale war the occupiers in Crimea initiated 56 new criminal cases against Ukrainian citizens.

Tamila Tasheva noted that the occupied Crimea is used by the Russian Federation not only as a springboard for a full-scale offensive, but also for “filtration measures” and deportation of people, including children, from the newly occupied territories.

The Permanent Representative also drew the attention of the participants of the Dialogue to the problem of forced passportization, which led to the involvement of at least 36 thousand residents of the occupied peninsula in the army of the occupying country. At least 381 citizens have been illegally prosecuted for avoiding illegal conscription.

“After Russia announced the so-called ‘partial’ mobilization on September 21, 2022, Ukrainian citizens in occupied Crimea immediately felt the impact of this new reality. According to various sources, this campaign is aimed in particular at Crimean Tatars. Women doctors were also mobilized. Only those with minor children could avoid mobilization,” Tamila Tasheva said.

The EU side was represented at the event by Petra Gombalova-Kislingerova, Head of the Ukraine Section of the European External Action Service. The Ukrainian delegation included representatives of ministries, Commissioners from the Government and the Verkhovna Rada, as well as specialized experts.