Today in the European Parliament we discussed the topic of Crimean Tatars. Russian annexation of Crimea is illegal and needs to stop. Crimea must be returned to Ukraine. Until this is not the case, Russia is obliged to protect the Crimean people from any form of discrimination and to protect their human rights. Sadly we are witnessing the opposite. The banning of Mejlis and the persecution of its members is deplorable and has to stop.

I made a proposal to nominate Mustafa Dzhemilev as one of the candidates for the Sakharov Prize. He is a leader of the Crimean Tatars who has been banned from entering Crimea for his activities in promoting the human rights of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea.

EU needs to send a clear message that we do not tolerate the current occupation of Crimea and the repressions of the Crimean Tatars.

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I sent this to my colleagues in the European Parliament.

Today, on 19 August 2015, a judgment in the case of the Estonian police officer Eston Kohver was made public by the Pskov Court of Russia. The punishment is 15 years of imprisonment in a high security prison.
Almost one year has passed since Eston Kohver’s abduction by the Russian Security Services FSB. The abduction of Eston Kohver from the territory of the Republic of Estonia by the FSB on 5 September 2014 and his unlawful detainment in Russia thereafter constitute a blatant breach of international law.
From the very beginning, there has been no fair administration of justice in the proceedings against Mr. Kohver. The unlawful conviction only adds to and underlines the numerous violations of the principles of international law that have taken place.
Eston Kohver is convicted on the charges of espionage. It is particularly disturbing that there was no public hearing of the case and that the Estonian consul was not allowed to be present at the hearings. Mr. Kohver was deprived of the right to fair proceedings and did not receive adequate legal aid by the attorney appointed by the Russian authorities. His appointed attorney has repeatedly made unclear or even provocative statements, including those that seek to undermine the Estonian authorities. He has provided unclear advice to Mr. Kohver.

Meetings with the Estonian consul constitute the only link to the outside world for Mr.Kohver. The Estonian consul meets with him on a regular basis. FSB officials have participated in these meetings and conversations have been translated into the Russian language. The FSB has immediately interrupted all discussions about the proceedings; the consul is only allowed to talk about family and private matters.

The deterioration of Mr. Kohver’s health during his detention was ignored for a long time. A doctor was not allowed to visit and examine him until 30 December 2014. The judge in Pskov has already two occasions denied requests for a visit by an Estonian doctor. The Estonian consul has requested that Mr. Kohver’s wife will be allowed to visit him but so far the judge has refused such requests.
We call on Russia to immediately release Eston Kohver. Russia must act by its international obligations, release Eston Kohver and guarantee his safe return to Estonia.
Estonia is very grateful to its allies and partners who have supported Estonia and raised the issue of Eston Kohver in international organisations and bilaterally with Russia. Together with our allies and partners, we intend to keep up international pressure until Eston Kohver is released and has returned home to his family.
I hope to get also your support.

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Member of European Parliament, Urmas Paet, stated that the harassment of human rights organizations in Russia has become increasingly rough and leads to closing down human rights activities in Russia.

Today in Brussels Paet said that in the end of 2014 Russia’s Justice Ministry amended substantially the list of so called foreign agents, adding several remarkable organizations that deal with protection of human rights. “I proposed dealing with the issue in forthcoming European Parliament plenary session.”

“For example Andrei Sakharov Center, the Kaliningrad-based Human Rights Center, Anti-Discrimination Center Memorial in Saint-Petersburg and many others were added to the list. Sakharov Center was added to the list only few days after European Parliament had awarded the 2014 Sakharov human rights prize,” Paet added.

According to Paet the root of these steps lies in Russia’s authorities’ fear of their own people and society. “Otherwise human rights organizations would not be harassed and stalled.”

He added that European Union, including European Parliament, must clearly stand for the action of human rights organizations. Status of being a foreign agent in Russia is unfortunately a fast way to liquidation. For the moment over 20 organizations have been proclaimed to be foreign agents,” said Paet.

Additional information:

urmas.paet@europarl.europa.eu

www.urmaspaet.eu

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Member of European Parliament, Urmas Paet, said in White Ribbon campaign event in Brussels that Estonia as well as many other countries should urgently ratify the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combationg violence againt Women. “Also school programs need to be complemented in a way that education would be shaped by values approprioate for 21st century,” he added.

According to Paet, violence is not only a problem of developing countries, it is similarly common in highly developed countries, inluding in Europe. “Zero tolerance must apply in this matter and it should be treated as any other serious fraud”, he said.

Paet added that under no circumstances should violence be justified by cultural or traditional differences.

“Estonia could contribute more here as well, for example by ratifying the Istanbul Convention and calling  for other countries to do the same. In addition, more development assistance should be addressed to enhance situation of women in developing countries,” Paet noted.

Urmas Paet has been nominated as a White Ribbon Ambassador in Estonia.

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Urmas Paet, a member of the European Parliament, said in the plenary sessioon of the European Parliament in Strasbourg during the discussion on the children´s rights that the number of children killed shows us the tragic picture of the violations of children’s rights. Last year the world lost 6.5 million children.

The Convention on the Rights of the Child has the greatest number of parties to it but it is constantly being violated. “150 million children are illiterate and a huge number of children die of diseases that already for a long time can be cured or prevented,” he added.

According to Paet every day the rights of millions of children are being violated. “In the less developed countries every fourth child is used in child labor and millions are being discriminated or experience physical and sexual violence and abuse. In conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Ukraine and elsewhere there are millions of children that suffer directly,” he said.

Paet added that implementing the principles of the Convention celebrating its 25th birthday must be addressed with the same seriousness as it was 10 or 20 years ago. “Protection of children and their rights must be linked with many other developing processes.”

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Urmas Paet, a member of the European Parliament, stated in the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the elimination of violence against women, that European Union must work harder towards eliminating violence against women with the aim of zero tolerance policy.

To begin with the European Parliament and all EU Member States must join the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, the Istanbul Convention. “It´s the least we can do. Even this Convention has only been ratified by 8 EU Member States. In addition other legal measures must be adopted by the EU to help eliminate violence against women,” he said.

Paet added that any form of violence against women is a grave violation human rights and makes it impossible for women to enjoy their basic rights to life, security, freedom, dignity as well as physical and emotional immunities. “Violence against women takes many forms from domestic violence to systematic violence for political reasons. By no means can violence be justified by cultural peculiarities or traditions,” he said. According to Paet we must achieve zero tolerance in eliminating violence against women.

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