EPP Resolution on Ukraine: Stop Violence or Sanctions

Brussels, 28 January 2014

 

The Political Assembly of the European People’s Party, which brings together representatives of 74 member parties from 39 countries, met yesterday and today in Brussels adopted the following resolution on Ukraine:

The European People’s Party welcomes the democratic spirit of the Ukrainian people and strongly condemns the escalation of violence against them. Despite international pressure, Ukrainian authorities continue to pursue a policy of repression and violence against protesters. Over the last number of days, more than 2000 people were injured, many abducted and five people were killed. President Yanukovych, his administration and the Government are responsible for the deaths and injuries of people from EuroMaidans. The popular uprising in Ukraine has reached a majority of the regions, the administrations of 10 regions are under the control of the people. Any forceful crackdown or declaration of a state of emergency, will be considered as a criminal act and a violation of fundamental rights with profound international consequences. Those who authorise the use of force against protesters should be held to account under international law and Hague Tribunal.

 

Therefore, the European People’s Party:

 

• Expresses its sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the violence in Ukraine: dead, injured and missing;

 

• Expresses its strong solidarity with Ukrainian people at EuroMaidans, who have spoken out and acted peacefully and courageously in support of a free, democratic, independent Ukraine and its European perspective;

 

• Confirms its commitment to Ukraine’s political association and economic integration with the EU, based on respect for common European values;

 

• Condemns the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada, in the disregard of appropriate legal procedures, of the new repressive legislation that curtails fundamental human rights and freedoms, such as the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly; undermines freedom of the press, NGOs and religious organisations; restricts internet freedom; makes it easier to persecute political opposition; and fosters impunity for human rights violations by the police and other state agents;

 

• Demands that these laws are revoked as they contradict Ukraine’s constitution, international commitments and obligations as Council of Europe, OSCE and UN members, and violate the European Convention of Human Rights and the rule of law;• Deplores the violence and repression against peaceful citizens, journalists, students, civil society activists, opposition politicians, clergy;

 

• Condemns the commandment of the Prosecutor General office to provide personal data of students who participated in demonstrations with view to their further expulsion from universities or abolishment of their scholarships;

 

• Demands President Yanukovych cease the shameful practices of Berkut and other security forces of kidnaping, torturing and beating supporters of EuroMaidans;Insists on the immediate release and political rehabilitation of all civil society activists and political prisoners, including Yulia Tymoshenko, whose continuing imprisonment - despite the verdict of the European Court of Human Rights - is symbolic of the absence of rule of law in Ukraine and incompatibility of the Ukrainian legal system with European norms and standards;

 

• Condemns as unacceptable pressure put on Ukrainian churches and clergymen;

 

• Takes the view that a failure of President Yanukovych to refrain from using authoritarian policies, methods and instruments of violence against people and a complete failure to take urgent, concrete and transparent steps to remedy the situation and find a democratic, peaceful solution to the current political crisis will have clear and unavoidable consequences regarding his personal responsibility before the Ukrainian people and international community;

 

• Calls for the UN Security Council to urgently convene to consider the situation in Ukraine;

 

• Appeals to the EU Institutions, the EU executives and the relevant national governments of the EU Member States to take vigorous and immediate actions, including placing increased diplomatic pressure and the introduction of personalised targeted measures and sanctions on travelling and freezing assets and property of those Ukrainian officials, legislators and their business sponsors (oligarchs) who are responsible for a large-scale massive violation of human rights and of the rule of law, repression against peaceful citizens, deaths of citizens as well as the introduction of draconian laws violating the international obligations of the Ukrainian State;

 

• Appeal to the Party of European Socialists and S&D Group in the European Parliament, who are cooperating with the ruling Party of the Regions in Ukraine, to take its responsibility and to influence their partners to deescalate the conflict and stop the  repression and violence against peaceful supporters at EuroMaidans;

 

• Expresses its full support and solidarity with the EPP sister parties BATKIVSHCHYNA and UDAR in their united efforts to defend European values and provide a credible democratic alternative for the sake of freedom, dignity and prosperity of all Ukrainian citizens and supports their aim to achieve a truly European future;

 

• Calls on the continuation of the dialogue started between President Yanukovych and the leaders of the opposition on behalf of EuroMaidan, which should prevent the further violence and escalation of the conflict. The European Union and the European Parliament should play the role of mediator in order to achieve a peaceful and democratic solution. We urge Ukrainian authorities to stick to their commitments and not betray their citizens. One of the important solutions for resolving the crisis in Ukraine is the return to the Constitution of 2004. It was illegally abolished in 2010 by the Constitutional Court, bypassing the Ukrainian Parliament. That, together with President’s Vilnius U-turn on EU Association Agreement against promises made to Ukrainian citizens, are raising questions as to the legitimacy of the current President and of anticipated elections;

 

• Calls on Russia to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Ukraine, applying political, economic and other coercion in breach of the Helsinki Final Act and the 1994 Budapest Memorandum concerning Ukraine's security. This will have to be addressed during the 28 January EU-Russia Summit. Failing to contribute to non-violent solution will harm the spirit of peace, dialogue and reconciliation of the Sochi Olympic Games.

Note to editors:

The EPP is the largest and most influential European-level political party of the centre-right, which currently includes 74 member-parties from 39 countries, the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, 12 EU and 4 non-EU heads of state and government, 13 members of the European Commission and the largest Group in the European Parliament.

For more information:

Kostas Sasmatzoglou, EPP Spokesman, Tel. +32-2-2854147

Javier Jiménez, EPP Senior Press and Communication Officer, Tel. +32-475480446