United States: Human rights situation in Crimea is dreadful

The situation with respect for human rights in the Russian-occupied Crimea is dreadful.

Robert Berschinski, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor at the U.S. Department of State, said this during his meeting with First Deputy Chair of the Kherson Regional State Administration Valentyna Sichova in Kherson, Ukrinform news agency reports.

“I deal with the human rights at the U.S. Department of State. We understand that the current human rights situation in the occupied peninsula is dreadful,” Berschinski said.

 He noted that the independent media were not able to work in Crimea and people were illegally tried and kept in prison there.

As a reminder, as stated in the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Office, the human rights situation in Crimea remains extremely difficult. The Crimean Tatars, who take part in demonstrations, are harassed and arrested for allegedly belonging to “terrorist” organizations.

The UN is also concerned about possible recognition of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people as an extremist organization and ban on its activities.