Ukrainian government and Foreign Ministry attaches particular priority to the protection of cultural and educational rights of Ukrainian communities abroad. In particular, in the end of last year President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, Foreign Minister Konstantin Gryshchenko, Ukrainian authorities at all levels have made all necessary efforts to normalize the situation around the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow. While respecting the independence of Russian law enforcement and justice, official Kyiv has consistently argued the need to preserve and development of an important center of Ukrainian culture and education in the capital of the Russian Federation.

Now the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the decision of the Russian judicial authorities to put an end to this situation by closing the criminal case against the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow and its director Natalia Sharina.

As you know, last December, a violation of that criminal case in connection with allegedly distributing in the Library literature with an"extremist nature" caused serious resonance in Ukrainian society.

Today we pleased to state that the results of the investigation by law enforcement agencies of Russia did not show any signs of such literature in the Library and in the actions of its director. Also, the court ordered the Russian law enforcement agencies to return library books and servers that were seized during the investigation, and as for the library director should be created conditions for rehabilitation of her good name.

We hope that the renewed Russian justice on the possibilities of Ukrainians in Moscow to meet their cultural and educational needs will be an important element in strengthening the Ukrainian-Russian partnership in the humanitarian sphere.