Statement by Marija Pejčinović Burić during her visit to Ukraine

10-05-2022

Manon Picard

International Justice and Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić, made a statement at the end of her visit to Ukraine. During her visit, the Secretary General met with important political figures such as President Zelenskyy, Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishyna, Foreign Minister Kuleba, First Deputy Foreign Minister Dzhaparova and members of the Ukrainian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Marija Pejčinović Burić also met representatives of the military and civil society during her visit in other towns of Ukraine. During her statement, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe stated the following: 

“I reiterated the Council of Europe’s unwavering support and solidarity during these very challenging times to President Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people. The evidence of unspeakable atrocities that I witnessed in our member state Ukraine is of deep concern. Today, on Europe Day, our hearts are with Ukraine as we continue to stand by its authorities and its people”. 

Marija Pejčinović Burić also agreed to provide help and advice to the Ukrainian authorities “in the context of their investigations into gross human rights violations and their cooperation with the International Criminal Court”. The Secretary General once again called for an “immediate end to the hostilities” and that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity should be maintained. Marija Pejčinović Burić stated that there was no place in Europe for such violence and human rights violations as “democracy thrives and the rule of law prevails”. 

At the same time, Dunja Mijatović, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights also visited Ukraine over a four-day period; specifically, Kyiv and its regions. Similarly to the Secretary General’s statement, Dunja Mijatović condemned the Russian Federation’s aggression against the sovereign territory of Ukraine. Moreover, the Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that “[p]roviding redress and support for victims and their families and delivering justice will be an incredibly daunting but imperative task”.

Sources and further reading:

Council of Europe. (2022, May 9). Visit to Ukraine: Commissioner Mijatović Calls for Continuous Support and Justice for Victims of the War. Newsroom – Council of Europe. Retrieved on May 10, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/visit-to-ukraine-commissioner-mijatovic-calls-for-continuous-support-and-justice-for-victims-of-the-war

Council of Europe. (2022, May 9). Statement by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić on her Visit to Ukraine. Newsroom – Council of Europe. Retrieved on May 10, 2022, from https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/secretary-general-in-ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (2022, May 9). Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. Official Website – President of Ukraine. Retrieved on May 10, 2022, from https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/volodimir-zelenskij-zustrivsya-z-generalnim-sekretarem-radi-74937