The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the appeal to the parliaments of other countries and international parliamentary assemblies not to weaken sanctions against the Russian Federation, to refuse to cooperate with it in the military sphere, and to pursue diplomatic and legal pressure on Moscow until, as long as you keep the Russian control over the Crimea and supporting Russian authorities in the breakaway LC and DNR. The Russian side has repeatedly stressed that it is not a party to domestic conflict in the Donbass, and the issue of Crimea’s belonging to closed finally.The vote on the draft appeal to foreign parliaments was one of the points in the agenda of an extraordinary meeting of Rada. Besides him, the deputies had to ratify the Treaty with Argentina on mutual extradition of criminals, to approve in General the draft law on distribution to Ukraine international schemes of varietal certification of seeds of sugar and fodder beet, as well as to consider about a dozen other projects. But the project appeals to parliaments and parliamentary assemblies, it was decided to put to the vote first.Although during the quarantine, the vote mostly goes without discussion (members get acquainted in advance with bills, read the conclusions of the committees and commissions, exchange ideas remotely), the bill was submitted under the old rules, reports and discussions. One of the authors of the appeal, the Deputy from “public Servants” Bohdan Yaremenko, took the podium to explain the importance of its adoption.”Colleagues, unfortunately, the occupation of the Crimea is a long process and we need to get used to the fact that each year we will draw conclusions about what has been done in terms of de-occupation of the Crimea, such statements”,— said Bohdan Yaremenko, emphasizing that the work on the draft of the address was attended by representatives of all parliamentary forces, except for one.Which of the factions abstained, Mr. Yaremenko said, but it was clear this: under the five-page document signed by 12 MPs from all factions except the Pro-Russian “Opposition platform for life.” Its representatives refused to compile treatment that encourages foreign parliamentarians to stop pressure on Russia.In the same document, Russia is accused of non-performance of obligations under the Budapest Memorandum, the Minsk agreements and other arrangements. A separate item worth please do not ease the pressure on Russia until, until liberated held on Moscow-controlled territories and the prisoners will not stop harassment of members of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people (forbidden in the Russian organization).Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis, MP from the “EuropeanOh solidarity” Ahtem Chiygoz from the rostrum of Parliament expressed the hope that the resolution will initiate the discussion on the fate of Crimea and Crimeans on the international markets. “We, for our part, must do some steps, because time is no longer — to strengthen our positions at the international level. Steps aimed at the adoption of laws that would have prevented Russia’s attempts to rewrite history, and will protect the rights of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people”,— said Akhtem Chiygoz in one of his first official speeches of the Ukrainian language. Mr. Boyko is confident that in the days of quarantine, when the parliaments of most States are busy fighting the coronavirus, the appeal by Ukrainian MPs will not be heard.In addition, as pointed out by Yuriy Boyko, “Opposition platform of Pro — life” has its own plan the end of the conflict and the return of Ukrainian sovereignty on the now uncontrolled territory of Donbass. However, the plan he had outlined in very General terms. “Our position is unchanged: to stop the war in the East in order to get people to return the territories, the Parliament must have the political courage and responsibility and to make laws that allow you to do it,”— said the Deputy, managed in his speech never to mention Crimea (although he devoted a large part of the appeal, against the decision which Mr. Boyko spoke).Judging by the results of the vote, the speech of Yuriy Boyko, has convinced only himself. The adoption of appeals voted 309 of 342 present in the session hall of the deputies and opposed by only members of the faction “the Opposition platform for life”. The deputies adopted the project of the appeal will have in the coming days to act on the signature of President Vladimir Zelensky, after which the text will be disseminated in foreign parliaments and the parliamentary Assembly.We will remind, the Russian side has repeatedly stressed that it is not a party to domestic conflict in the Donbass, and the issue of Crimea’s belonging to closed finally.Matthew Shimanov, Kiev
