April 9 — April 15 News Digest

G7: the annexation of Crimea is a violation of the international law

April 11. During the meeting representatives of the Foreign Ministries of the Group of Seven asked Moscow persistently to influence the pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven named Russia's annexation of Crimea as a violation of the international law.

Ukraine closed fishing ports in the annexed Crimea

April 12. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine closed the Kerch and Sevastopol Fishing Sea Ports temporarily till the constitutional order of Ukraine will be restored on the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. It is said in the explanatory note to the document, that making such a decision caused by the impossibility of serving ships and passengers. The Cabinet of Ministers instructed the State Agency of Fish Industry to inform the international organizations about closing of these ports.

Lithuania introduced it’s sanctions against Russia

April 13. Lithuania introduced it’s sanctions against the Russian Federation. As Minister of the Foreign Office of Lithuania Linas Linkevicius said, they forbade entrance to the country to 46 persons connected with unlawful conviction of film director Oleg Sentsov and activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, and also soldier and deputy Nadija Savchenko.

Kyiv court authorized to arrest Aksenov

April 13. Pecherskij Court of Kyiv authorized to detain the Russian Minister of Crimea Sergij Aksenov. "The Head" of Crimea is suspected in criminal case, namely, an illegal alienation of property of the state enterprise "International Children's Centre "Artek". Also Kyiv Obolonskij District Court seized the property related to the state enterprise "International Children's Centre "Artek".

Poklonska suspended the activity of Mejlis

April 13. Russian prosecutor of Crimea Natalia Poklonska signed a resolution about the suspension of Mejlis activity of the Crimean Tatar people in Crimea. A copy of the resolution was sent to the First Chairman Assistant of Mejlis Nariman Jelial and to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation for inclusion to the organizations register. Organizations which were suspended in connection with "extremist activity" belong to this register.

Resolution of the Russian prosecutor's office will proceed until rendering verdict by the Russian "Supreme Court of the Crimea Republic" of the case of recognition Mejlis as an extremist organization.

Kostenko is refused conditional early release

April 14. Kirovo-Chepetsk district court of Kirov region in Russia refused Crimean political prisoner Oleksandr Kostenko the conditional early release. Sotnikov says, that this decision is a political one and intends to file an appeal against the decision. Earlier Kostenko, who was sentenced to 3,5 years in prison by the Crimean "court", was placed to the disciplinary cell on the eve of consideration of his early release.

The Council of Europe’s Report: Crimeans can not protect their rights

April 14. At a meeting of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg a report of the Council of Europe human rights mission was promulgated, where it is noted that the occupation of Crimea has deprived people of the opportunity to protect their rights. Authors of the report insist on the necessity to open the occupied Crimea for monitoring structures of the Council of Europe.