The aggressor state continues illicit oppression of religious communities in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The recent so-called "court ruling" by the occupation administration, ordering the demolition of a Ukrainian Orthodox Church temple in Yevpatoria and the payment of a "fine", is another proof of lawlessness with the aim to restrict religious freedom on the peninsula.

Such actions are a ruthless violation by the Russian Federation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is indignant about these actions and yet again draws the world's attention to the destructive nature of Russia's presence on Ukrainian territory, the intentionally ruinous policy of the occupying power aiming to eradicate everything Ukrainian in Crimea and to suppress religious freedoms of those with a voice against the attempted annexation.

The Foreign Ministry calls on the international community to give a proper assessment of this cynical violation of religious rights in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, and to denounce the illegal actions of the aggressor state.