Deputy Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko participated in the OSCE Human Dimension Conference on Tolerance and Non-Discrimination, including Combating Racism, Xenophobia, Discrimination, and Intolerance, held today in Warsaw. This large-scale human rights event involved public sector and civil society representatives from Europe and partner countries.

The Deputy Permanent Representative emphasized the destruction of the cultural and religious heritage of Crimea by the occupation administration. In particular, she noted that until 2014 there were 49 Ukrainian religious communities on the peninsula, but now there are none left.

“The occupation administration in Crimea is waging an active campaign of repression against the civilian population of the peninsula, using methods of political terror. Systematic house searches, arrests, and persecutions have been perpetrated in occupied Crimea for the last ten years. As of today, at least 218 Crimean political prisoners are behind bars, 132 of them are representatives of the Indigenous people, Crimean Tatars,” emphasized Olha Kuryshko.

In conclusion, the Deputy Permanent Representative emphasized that the residents of the peninsula continue to resist the occupation by raising Ukrainian flags, organizing resistance movements, and publicly expressing support for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“For Ukraine, this is an important signal and a strong incentive to continue the struggle,” summarized Olha Kuryshko.