The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has called on Russian authorities to restore Ukrainian law in Crimea and take immediate action to address human rights violations in the region. In a set of decisions made following their March 2025 meetings, the Committee condemned Russia’s continued violations of international law, urging the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners, including soldiers, ethnic Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, and journalists, who have been illegally detained.
These prisoners, the Committee emphasized, must be provided access to legal counsel, medical care, and communication with their families. The Council also denounced Russia’s use of torture and ill-treatment of detainees, underscoring the need for cooperation with international human rights monitoring bodies.
The decisions come in response to the European Court of Human Rights’ 2024 judgment in Ukraine v. Russia, which found that Russia had violated multiple rights following its occupation of Crimea in 2014. While Russia withdrew from the Council of Europe in 2022, the Committee maintains that Russia is still bound by its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
These developments coincide with ongoing EU and UK sanctions aimed at Russia, as well as continued international condemnation of Russia’s actions in Crimea, with several rights organizations reporting extensive human rights abuses, including the mistreatment of detainees and imprisoned journalists.
Council of Europe Palais Picture by Council of Europe on Wikimedia Creative Commons 3 0
