Council of Europe Commissioner Mijatović intends to visit occupied Crimea

Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Dunja Mijatović has stated her intention to visit the annexed Crimea, but "for now, it needs to be confirmed". This was reported by the press service of the Office of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, - Radio Liberty writes.

"In connection with some statements that are distributed in the media and on the Internet about my visit to Crimea, I would like to emphasize that I am really going to visit the Crimea, but for now, this needs to be confirmed. There are many questions that need to be clarified so that I can engage in human rights activities on the peninsula", - Mijatović quoted her office.

The press service of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated on June 11 that "an agreement was reached on the visit of the CE Commissioner for Human Rights Mijatović to the Crimea on October 7-11 of this year".

On March 16, 2014, a "referendum" on the status of the peninsula, unrecognized by the majority of countries, was held on the territory of Crimea and Sevastopol, on the results of which Russia integrated the Crimea. Ukraine, the European Union, the USA and most countries of the world did not recognize the results of the referendum voting. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the "accession" of the Crimea to Russia on March 18, 2014.

International organizations recognized the occupation and annexation of Crimea as illegal and condemned Russia's actions. Western countries have imposed economic sanctions. Russia denies the annexation of the peninsula and calls it "restoration of historical justice". The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine officially proclaimed the date of the beginning of the temporary occupation of the Crimea and Sevastopol by Russia on February 20, 2014.