EU reiterates it does not recognize Russia's annexation of Crimea:
The European Union has reiterated that it does not recognize Russia's annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine two years go on March 2014.
In a statement on March 18, EU foreign-policy chief Federica Mogherini reiterated that the 28-member bloc "continues to condemn this violation of international law."
Mogherini also reaffirmed the EU's "deep concern at the military build-up and the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Crimean Peninsula, including the denial of freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of religion and belief, and the persecution of persons belonging to minorities, in particular the Crimean Tatars."
The EU statement also called for the release of Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, who was arrested in Crimea in May 2014 and was jailed in August last year for 20 years on terrorism charges that he and international rights groups call politically motivated.
The bloc also urged the release of Oleksandr Kolchenko, an activist sentenced to 10 years in prison by Russian-backed authorities in Crimea.
Putin to visit Crimea on March 18:
Russian news reports say President Vladimir Putin will visit Crimea on March 18.
According to the reports, Putin will visit the construction site of a bridge being built to Crimea across the Kerch Strait to connect Russia with the Crimean Peninsula.
Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine two years go.
The West has imposed sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and also its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Western countries have refused Russia's annexation of the Crimea and have condemned it as a violation of international law. (Reuters, Interfax)
Freedom House calls for "ending impunity for human rights violations in Crimea:
Despite the hopes raised by the Euromaidan movement and improvements in many facets of life and governance in Ukraine, the last two years have brought the occupation of Crimea, armed conflict in parts of eastern Ukraine, and ongoing abuses, corruption, and political unrest.
The “Russianization” of Crimea and its justice system; a severe crackdown on civil society and perceived political opponents; and the arbitrary application of the law in Crimea conspire to create what is in effect a lawless zone where the de facto authorities wield near absolute power. Crimea, under the control of the Russian Federation, is subjected to a hybrid Russian legal system, where laws are flexible and local pro-government armed forces act with impunity.
Restrictions on public demonstrations, civil society organizations, the media, and others are routine. This situation is exacerbated by concerted efforts to prevent Ukrainians and international human rights monitors, journalists, and others from traveling to Crimea. Governments, international organizations, and human rights organizations must take steps to bear witness to the ongoing tragedy in Crimea and do their best to put a stop to it.
German minister aims to get Russian sanctions lifted:
German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel has called on the European Union to create conditions by this summer to lift sanctions imposed against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.
"That must be our common goal," said Gabriel, whose Social Democrats (SDP) share power with Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democratic Union.
"[We should] aim for such a deal with the Russian Federation with all our strength," he said, during a meeting of the German-Russian forum in Berlin on March 17.
The West has imposed sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea in March 2014 and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Germany and France have said lifting sanctions depends on Russia complying with the terms of the Minsk peace process, which has stalled.
The EU has extended asset freezes and travel bans on Russians and Russian companies but there is less agreement on whether to extend more far-reaching sanctions on Russia's banking, defense, and energy sectors from July. (Reuters, RT)