Open Letter to the European Union and NATO Officials Regarding the Anniversary of the Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy

Monday, 19 June 2017 16:21
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June 28, 2017 marks the anniversary of adoption of the Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy. In its strategy paper, the EU recorded non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and promoted "human rights through dialogue and support, including in the most difficult cases." On this occasion, the relatives of political prisoners of the Kremlin, social activists and human rights defenders appealed in an open letter to senior EU and NATO officials, calling on the EU to use its soft power to enforce the aggressor for peace and release of political prisoners in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

The letter notes that sanctions should include:

freezing of the personal assets of the Kremlin's kleptocracy, including Putin's family members and "circle of friends" in Western financial institutions
gradual replacement of imports into the EU of Russian oil, petroleum products, gas and coal by those from the non-Russian sources;
declining Russian projects of non-transit gas transportation systems like the Nord Stream 2 project by the EU member states.

In the final part of the Letter, the activists expressed hope that human rights and freedoms are still the Western political values prevailing approach of "business as usual".

To read the original letter in English follow the link below:

Open Letter to the European Union and NATO Officials Regarding the Anniversary of the Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy

Infographic 1. Ukrainian Prisoners in Russia and Temporarily Occupied Crimea. Temporarily Occupied Crimea: At Least 31 Prisoners

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