Deputy Permanent Representative Denys Chystikov participated in the panel discussion “Strategies of reintegration and work with citizens in the temporarily occupied territories” held at the Forum of Public Leaders: United for Victory. During the event, he spoke about Ukraine’s reintegration policies for Crimea, which have already been developed and are being prepared for implementation after the peninsula’s de-occupation.

Denys Chystikov reminded that Crimea has been under temporary occupation for more than ten years, and during this time, there has been a constant increase in persecution, detention, pressure, and torture of Ukrainian citizens by the occupation administration. The Deputy Permanent Representative emphasized that only the liberation of the peninsula would restore justice, develop the region’s economy, and implement the necessary reforms. He also noted that the Mission, together with experts and other state authorities, has developed the Priorities of Ukraine after the De-occupation of Crimea, the Strategy for the Restoration of Crimea after De-occupation, and the Strategy for the Cognitive De-occupation of Crimea.

It was emphasized that since September 2022, the Mission, together with the state authorities and experts, has developed a strategy of priority steps after the de-occupation of Crimea. One of these steps is to restore the activities of state institutions in Crimea, which have actually ceased to function since the beginning of the temporary occupation of the peninsula. In cooperation with ministries, MPs, and experts, a draft Law of Ukraine on the peculiarities of restoring public authorities in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol was developed. The document proposes a mechanism for restoring public authorities through establishing Republican-level military administrations until the conditions for holding elections and the full restoration of state bodies and administration are created.

The Deputy Permanent Representative also noted that the WE BUILD CRIMEA project, launched in 2022, was created as part of the Crimea Recovery Strategy to provide economic recovery. This project aims to unite the efforts of Ukrainian and international businesses to restore and develop Crimea after its de-occupation.

“We are shaping the state reintegration policy based on the best international practices, and we must be ready for a quick, successful, and as transparent reintegration process as possible,” Denys Chistikov emphasized.