Sanctions related to the Crimea will be valid until its returning to Ukraine – the US Department of State

The USA does not recognize the results of "referendum" in Crimea in 2014 and accuse the Russian authorities of violations of the rights of residents of the peninsula. This was stated by the Acting Official Representative of the US Department of State Mark Toner, - Interfax-Ukraine reports.

The statement of M.Toner says that "the USA does not recognize the "referendum" of March 16, 2014 for Russia as well as its attempts to annex Crimea and the continuing violation of international law".

"An illegitimate referendum was organized in Russia, where the residents of Crimea were forced to vote, and foreign troops armed to the teeth occupied their land", - the State Department spokesman stated.

He noted that the Russian occupation "authorities" in the Crimea are involved in the campaign on crackdown on dissent over the past three years.

"Human rights observers have registered enforced disappearances, extralegal executions, tortures and punitive psychiatric hospitalizations. Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians, pro-Ukrainian activists and independent journalists face the criminal prosecution for political reasons and repression", - was stated in the Department of State.

The Department of State called Russia "to stop the attempts of suppressing the freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, non-governmental organizations and religion".

"Our sanctions related to the Crimea will be valid until Russia regains control over the peninsula to Ukraine", - M.Toner stated.