On 21 December, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova took part together with members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, European Parliament, and independent experts in an online event "Crimean Platform: International Response to Occupation".

The event was also attended by Rustem Umerov MP, Lisa Yasko MP and Vadym Galaychuk MP, Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov, Member of the European Parliament from the Republic of Poland, Secretary-General of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party Anna Fotyga, Member of the European Parliament from the Republic of Lithuania Petras Austrevicius, Crimean expert and journalist, BlackSeaNews co-founder and editor-in-chief Andriy Klymenko.

Emine Dzhaparova briefed the participants on a continued deterioration of the situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea. In particular, she informed of the growing militarization of the peninsula, Russia's supplies of weapons and equipment capable of carrying nuclear weapons, the deployment of military personnel and the seizure of Ukrainian nuclear weapons storage facilities. «This all represents a serious threat to the security of the Azov-Black Sea and Mediterranean regions and requires increased attention from the international community," said the First Deputy Minister.

Emine Dzhaparova stressed the responsibility of Russia for political persecution, torture, inhuman treatment of prisoners, and restriction of access to medical care, especially in the context of the spread of COVID-19. The First Deputy Minister also touched upon the illegal expropriation of Ukrainian property by the Russian occupation authorities on the peninsula and cases of illegal business activities in the occupied Crimea by certain European companies.

Emine Dzhaparova welcomed establishment by the European Union of the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and called on the EU to appoint a Special Representative for Crimea.

Emine Dzhaparova stressed on the need of intensification of efforts to de-occupy Crimea and overcome the consequences of the occupation. She presented a new initiative of Ukraine - the Crimean Platform – and invited members of the European Parliament to join its work at the parliamentary level.

Another important highlight of the event was a presentation by Ukrainian MPs Rustem Umerov, Lisa Yasko and Vadym Galaychuk of the inter-factional group “Crimean Platform”, created recently in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.

The participants agreed on the importance of involving parliamentary circles in efforts to de-occupy the peninsula, including within the framework of the Crimean Platform.

For reference: the event took was a part of a series of public events "European Debate". The co-organizers were the European Conservatives and Reformists Party and the Mission of Ukraine to the EU. The audience of such events includes members and representatives of the European Parliament, journalists, the diplomatic corps.