A statement from EU High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini on the announced signature today of a treaty between Russia and Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia, where Moscow is consolidating on-the-ground gains from its brief war with Georgia in 2008:
The signature by the Russian Federation of a so-called “Treaty on Alliance and Integration” with Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia announced for 18 March will be yet another step that goes against ongoing efforts to strengthen security and stability in the region.
The whole statement is here.
The chief monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine, Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan, will visit the tense city of Mariupol today. The OSCE says he will meet the SMM team working in Mariupol and with the mayor of the city, Yuriy Khotlubei.
International rights watchdog Amnesty International is strident in its criticism of Moscow and its proxy regime in Crimea concerning the year since Russia illegally annexed the Ukrainian peninsula.
"[Amnesty International says] Crimea's Russian-backed leaders have cracked down on dissent, creating a climate of fear on the annexed Ukrainian region, with many of the regime's more vocal critics opting to leave.
It cites "violations of the rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association in Crimea [and] highlights human rights abuses by the de facto authorities, including the failure to investigate a series of abductions and torture of their critics, and their unrelenting campaign of intimidation against pro-Ukrainian media, campaigning organizations, Crimean Tatars and other individuals critical of the regime."
Amnesty's fresh report on March 18 comes exactly one year after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Crimean leaders signed a treaty on Crimea joining Russia, a moved widely rejected and condemned by the international community.
"One year on from Crimea’s annexation, the attitude of its de facto authorities and their Russian masters can be summed up simply -- like it or leave or shut up," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s director for Europe and Central Asia.
Here's our full story:
Amnesty International Slams Annexed Crimea's Pro-Russia Regime
A photo by Oleg Kamushkin from Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, for Krymr.org after a snowfall yesterday:
That concludes our live-blogging of the Ukraine crisis for Tuesday, March 17. Thanks for reading. Check back here Wednesday morning (Prague time) for more of our ongoing coverage.
Russia says fresh Ukraine gas talks planned Friday with EU
Moscow, March 17, 2015 (AFP) -- Russia will hold a fresh round of EU-mediated gas talks with Ukraine in Brussels on Friday, Moscow's energy ministry and the EU said, as the clock ticks down on the current deal.
"Trilateral negotiations will take place on 20 March in Brussels in the Russia-Ukraine-EU format with the participation of Energy Minister Alexander Novak," the ministry said in a statement.
European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen later tweeted: "Confirmed: EU-Russia-Ukraine trilateral gas talks take place in Brussels Friday 20 March."
The talks will come on the same day as a summit of EU leaders in Brussels.
Russia agreed with Ukraine earlier this month to continue supplying it with gas until the end of March, after a pay dispute that threatened to disrupt vital deliveries to Europe.
The disagreement was the latest stage in a lengthy saga between the two foes over gas supplies that Ukraine says is Russia's revenge for its pivot towards the West since the ousting of Kremlin-backed leader Viktor Yanukovych last year.
The EU receives about a third of its gas from Russia with half that amount transiting via Ukraine pipelines.
Russia Deploying Strategic Bombers To Crimea, Missiles To Kaliningrad
Russia's military has announced it was sending strategic bombers to the annexed Ukrainian territory of Crimea and will deploy advanced missiles to its exclave of Kaliningrad.
Russian news agencies TASS and Interfax cited defense officials March 17 confirming Tu-95 and Tu-22M3 strategic bombers, capable of carrying nuclear bombs, were being sent to Crimea as part of military exercises taking place around Russia.
The officials also said Iskander missiles would be sent to the Kaliningrad region, which borders NATO members Poland and Lithuania, as part of the military maneuvers.
Iskander missiles have a range of some 500 kilometers and can be equipped with conventional or nuclear warheads.
Polish Prime Minister Ewa Kopacz said, "Russia is making this gesture before the European Council meeting. It is trying to influence European Council decisions concerning extending or adding new sanctions."