“Subject of Crimea we are talking about today means my own law fare to me. I am Crimean like a lot of people in this hall. And certainly to overestimate this personal line of work is impossible. Speaking about law fare I really mean individuals my colleagues and I have been working together. That’s why this war means to me a struggle for the victims of this war”, Darya Svyrydova said.

The First Deputy Permanent representative of the President of Ukraine in the AR of Crimea during her statement at the Age of Crimea Forum, dedicated to the Day of Crimean Resistance to Russian occupation noted that on 26 February , six years ago the individual citizens of Ukraine suffered and paid a very high price for their right to say “Crimea is Ukraine” at the Simferopol square. At least, Ahtem Chiigoz. Mustafa Dehermedgi, Ali Asanov and others paid for two years in prison. She remembered about a pro-Ukrainian activist Mykola Shyptur, arrested on 9 March 2014 at the square in Symferopol, on the day of pro- Ukrainian protest, probably the last one, and who is being imprisoned now. She also remembered the names of the victims of occupation and political prisoners. There is a lot of such names and it is important to remember them.

Darya Svyrydova drew attention to another front which today very boldly is being won by lawyers in Crimea, who are the sources of evidence of crimes, committed by the RF, and which later are available at the international sites. In the courts of Rostv-na-Dony therefore, such lawyers as Emil Kurbedinov and Lili Gamedgy defended our political prisoners, documented crimes of aggression, committed the RF, violation of rules of the International Humanitarian Law and human rights violations. She commended the lawyers for their important and dangerous work at their lawfare of this war.

According to the First Deputy, a great pile of reports can not be underestimated as well and which were made possible due to the efforts of the human rights organizations. Since the early days of war a great deal of work has been done by the lawyers, activists, journalists who document the crimes of war the victims of war and work with victims of war, documenting their testimony.

There is the sixth consecutive year of war and we should recognize that the work of our state on documenting and investigation of crimes, to my mind, is conducted in arbitrary manner. Today, my colleagues have talked about coordination and handling of the documented crimes at the international level, undoubtedly it is very important to speak about. It worth mentioning that in conditions of limited resources of our state it is important for us to improve government structures, particularly those, mandated to investigate crimes and present our legal positions in international forums, Darya Svyrydova said,

Darya Svyrydova emphasized that issue of documenting of crimes and victims of this war is the issue of remembrance as well. According to her, a mass of information which has been documented today by the human rights organizations and law enforcement bodies to be reflected in the decisions of the international courts. It also should become a national heritage which consequently should be handed over to the relevant institutions that will guarantee a true and fair reconstruction of this war, commemoration of the victims of the occupation to avoid speculation. Probably, the Institute of National Remembrance will be able to get these documents and future “Commission of Truth” that may be established to speak about the all sides of conflict.

In conclusion, Darya Svyrydova noted, that the right to truth and the inevitability of punishment are the core elements of the Transitional Justice Conception and the development of its national model was mandated, in particular, to the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by the President of Ukraine, which in partnership with the other executive authorities is supposed to develop the National Conception Model of Transitional Justice as a model for overcoming the armed conflict. Today, the Conception of Transitional Justice which have been developed for some years together with the human rights organizations, was handed to the Legal Reform Commission and submitted to the Presidential Office.

“I am confident that in the nearest future we can talk more about it and it will become a part of the Plan of de-occupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories, and it will provide us with all the answers on how to live the next day after the regaining control over the occupied territory and who from the occupying authorities and how will be accountable for their deeds, how will the state defend the right to property, unlawfully expropriated from the residents, how will the state provide the access to education, administrative services and support the communication with the population”, Svyrydova said.

Lastly, Darya Svyrydova warned against what she saw as a single challenge related to interministerial coordination and cooperation.  There are quite enough initiatives today which are discussed at different forums on how can the strategy of de-occupation and reintegration of Crimea be built on. But it is important to develop a common vision of policy of de-occupation and reintegration and work toghether towards a common goal with a very important human dimension in mind.