EU statement on illegal conscription in occupied Crimea

The Russian Federation has started the 11th conscription campaign of residents in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol. The European Union condemned this draft attempt and has called on Russia to stop all violations of Human Rights and international law in the Crimean Peninsula.

The Statement by the Spokesperson of the European Union highlights that the EU does not and will not recognize the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

As part of the spring-summer conscription campaign, the Russian Armed Forces plans to call up roughly 3,000 Crimean residents, in violation of Article 51 of Geneva Convention and the UN General Assembly resolutions.

Meanwhile, the Communications Manager of the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre (CTRC) Elvir Sagirman, points out that despite the pandemic The Russian Federation continues “mass military exercises, systemic militarization, regular propaganda of military service and illegal conscription into Russia’s armed forces on the territory of the occupied peninsula”

You can read the full EU statement on the attempted conscription in Crimea here.

Sources: 112 International, EU reacts to illegal recruitment of Crimean residents to Russia’s armed forces, 28 July 2020; Representation of the European Union in Ukraine, Ukraine: Statement by the Spokesperson on the attempted conscription in Crimea, 28 July 2020; UNIAN, Russia ignores international law, conscripting residents in annexed Crimea – rights activist, 28 July 2020.