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JOINT
STATEMENT
by Mr
Michael GAHLER, Foreign Affairs Committee standing rapporteur on Ukraine,
by Ms
Rebecca HARMS, Chair of the EP Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary
Assembly,
by Mr
Dariusz ROSATI, Chair of the EP Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary
Association Committee
following
the decree issued by the President of the Russian Federation setting up a
simplified procedure to obtain Russian citizenship and to issue Russian
passports to residents in certain areas of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk
regions
We condemn the decree of the
President of the Russian Federation of 24 April 2019 establishing a
simplified procedure to apply for Russian citizenship and therefore to
apply for Russian passports for those persons who permanently reside in
certain areas of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The Russian decree is
unacceptable and demonstrates, once again, the Russian authorities’ lack of
respect for the sovereignty of Ukraine and international law. It also shows
Russia’s continuous intentions to destabilize Ukraine, just three days
after the Ukrainian people peacefully elected a new President through
competitive elections.
The decree follows the
Russian trend of issuing passports in areas with protracted conflicts in
Eastern Partnership countries that are not under the control of their
national governments, thereby deepening tensions in these regions.
Unequivocally, the decree further weakens the expectations of the
international community that the Minsk Agreements should be fully
implemented.
The European Parliament in
its 12 December 2018 Resolution on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
reiterated its condemnation of Russian aggression in the eastern part of
Ukraine. Furthermore, the European Parliament in its 12 March 2019
Resolution on the state of EU-Russia political relations, called for
confidence-building measures in the Donbas region. This new Russian decree
follows a complete opposite policy.
We remain committed to
supporting Ukraine's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,
and ask Russia to implement their commitments under the Minsk Agreements.
For further
information:
Office of Mr Gahler:
Tel.: +32 2 28 47 977; michael.gahler@europarl.europa.eu
Office of Ms Harms:
+32 2 28 45695 ; rebecca.harms@europarl.europa.eu
Office of Mr
Rosati:+32 2 28 474 82; dariusz.rosati@europarl.europa.eu
Secretariat of the
Delegation to the EU-Ukraine PAC: + 32 2 284 43 219 , D-UA@europarl.europa.eu
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