The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopts a resolution condemning Russia's actions in Ukraine

02. July 2014

RESOLUTION 

ON

CLEAR, GROSS AND UNCORRECTED VIOLATIONS OF HELSINKI PRINCIPLES BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

1. Noting that the Russian Federation is a participating State of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and has therefore committed itself to respect the Principles guiding relations between participating States as contained in the Helsinki Final Act,
2. Recalling that those principles include 1) Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty; 2) Refraining from the threat or use of force; 3) Inviolability of frontiers; 4) Territorial integrity of States; 5) Peaceful settlement of disputes; 6) Non intervention in internal affairs; 7) Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; 8) Equal rights and self-determination of peoples; 9) Co-operation among States; and 10) Fulfilment in good faith of obligations under international law,
3. Recalling also that the Russian Federation is a signatory, along with the United States of America and the United Kingdom, of the December 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, which was made in connection with Ukraine's accession to the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,
4. Concluding that the Russian Federation has, since February 2014, violated every one of the ten Helsinki principles in its relations with Ukraine, some in a clear, gross and thus far uncorrected manner, and is in violation with the commitments it undertook in the Budapest Memorandum, as well as other international obligations,
5. Emphasizing in particular that the 16 March 2014 referendum in Crimea was held in clear violation of the Constitution of Ukraine and the Constitution of Crimea as an autonomous republic within Ukraine, and was further conducted in an environment that could not be considered remotely free and fair,
6. Expressing concern that the Russian Federation continues to violate its international commitments in order to make similarly illegitimate claims in the eastern part of Ukraine, as it has done, and threatens to continue to do, in regard to other participating States,
7. Asserting that improved democratic practices regarding free and fair elections, adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the Russian Federation would benefit the citizens of that State but also contribute significantly to stability and confidence among its neighbours, as well as enhance security and co operation among all the participating States,
8. Noting the particular vulnerability of Crimean Tatars, Roma, Jews and other minority groups, along with those Ukrainian citizens opposed to the actions undertaken or supported by the Russian Federation, to attacks, harassment and intimidation by Russian supported separatist forces,
9. Welcoming the efforts and initiatives of the OSCE to develop a presence in Ukraine, including Crimea, that would support de-escalation of the current situation and monitor and encourage respect for the Helsinki principles, including the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Ukrainian citizens, as well as the work of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR),

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:

1. Condemns the clear, gross and uncorrected violation of the Helsinki principles by the Russian Federation with respect to Ukraine, including the particularly egregious violation of that country's sovereignty and territorial integrity;
2. Condemns the occupation of the territory of Ukraine;
3. Considers these actions, which include military aggression as well as various forms of coercion designed to subordinate the rights inherent in Ukraine's sovereignty to the Russian Federation's own interests, to have been unprovoked, and to be based on completely unfounded premises and pretexts;
4. Expresses unequivocal support for the sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine as defined by the country's Constitution and within its internationally recognized borders;
5. Affirms the right of Ukraine and all participating States to belong, or not to belong, to international organizations, to be or not to be a party to bilateral or multilateral treaties including the right to be or not to be a party to treaties of alliance, or to neutrality;
6. Views the 16 March 2014 referendum in Crimea as an illegitimate and illegal act, the results of which have no validity whatsoever;
7. Calls upon all participating States to refuse to recognize the forced annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation;
8. Also calls upon all participating States further to support and adhere to mutually agreed and fully justified international responses to this crisis;
9. Deplores the armed intervention by forces under the control of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, and the human rights violations that they continue to cause;
10. Calls on the Russian Federation to end its intervention in Ukraine and to bring itself into compliance with the Helsinki principles in its relations with Ukraine and with all other participating States;
11. Demands that the Russian Federation desist from its provocative military overflights of the Nordic-Baltic region, immediately withdraw its military forces from the borders of the Baltic States and cease its subversive activities within the ethnic Russian populations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania;
12. Supports continued efforts and initiatives of the OSCE to respond to this crisis, and calls on all OSCE states to provide both resources and political support and to allow the OSCE to work unhindered throughout Ukraine, including Crimea;
13. Urges the Russian Federation to contribute to regional stability and confidence, generally enhance security and co-operation by engaging its civil society and all political forces in a discussion leading to liberalization of its restrictive laws, policies and practices regarding freedom of the media, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly and association, and abide by its other commitments as a participating State of the OSCE;
14. Encourages Ukraine to remain committed to OSCE norms regarding the building of democratic institutions, adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens;
15. Exhorts the Russian Federation to fully utilize the expertise and assistance of the OSCE and its institutions, including the Parliamentary Assembly, to enact meaningful improvements in its electoral laws and practices;
16. Congratulates the people of Ukraine and commends the authorities of that country for successfully holding presidential elections on 25 May 2014 which were conducted largely in line with international commitments and characterized by a high voter turnout despite a challenging political, economic and, in particular, security environment;
17. Expresses a continued willingness to provide the substantial assistance to Ukraine in these and other matters at this critical time.

OSCE parliamentarians adopt Baku Declaration. 02 July 2014