The Constitution is not only a fundamental law, it is one of the symbols of Ukrainian statehood. Today President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated: “The Constitution itself gives the best assessment of the Constitution. The first word with which its first article begins is “Ukraine”. Its second article begins with the word “sovereignty”. And the third word is “person”. And that says it all”.

On these foundations the activities of the Mission are built. The temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol is the sovereign territory of Ukraine, and the citizens living there are citizens of Ukraine. These principles are included in the Strategy for Deoccupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol. We use these principles in our work, these principles will remain forever!

On the Constitution Day of Ukraine, we appeal to our citizens from the temporarily occupied Crimea: The Ukrainian authorities are doing everything possible to deoccupy Crimea peacefully. We understand that this is a long way. We urge you to remember that the Russian Federation is an occupying power, tricolors over Crimea are symbols of its temporary control, symbols of occupation, and the time when we will all remove the occupation symbols together is inevitable”.

Happy Constitution Day of Ukraine!

Photo by Andriy Osadchuk.