Council of Europe’s Secretary General highlights the Importance of Crimea and Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity

24-08-2023

Sofía Medina Sánchez 

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher 

Global Human Rights Defence 

On the 23rd of August, during the Third Summit of the Crimea Platform, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, highlighted the Council of Europe’s “unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Including Crimea”. 

The Secretary General mentioned the second annual report on the human rights situation in the Peninsula, which will be discussed by the Committee of Ministers in the following weeks and confirmed the importance of Crimea within the organisation. 

Marija Pejčinović Burić underlined the following issue: “Russia’s brutal, illegal, and ongoing aggression against Ukraine has worsened the situation. There have been multiple cases of harassment, selective prosecutions, and torture, demonstrating a widespread denial of fundamental civil and political rights. The abduction of Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians are among the many crimes committed”. 

In the delivery of this speech, the Council of Europe demonstrated its commitment towards supporting Ukraine and its political and territorial integrity amidst the devastating and outrageous effects of Russia’s aggression. 

Sources and further reading: 

Council of Europe, Newsroom, Council of Europe supports Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including Crimea, says Secretary General, 23 August 2023: https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/council-of-europe-supports-ukraine-s-territorial-integrity-including-crimea-says-secretary-general

Council of Europe Portal, Discours 2023, Third Summit of the International Crimea Platform, Speech by Secretary General, 23 August 2023: https://www.coe.int/fr/web/secretary-general/-/third-summit-of-the-international-crimea-platform