A/HRC/44/21
to statistics from the Russian Federation, as at 31 December 2019, 31,796 individuals were
legally residing in Crimea without citizenship of the Russian Federation.60
VI. Measures taken by the Government of Ukraine
46.
The Government of Ukraine is also bound by its obligations under international
human rights law, which include the obligation to use all available means to ensure respect
for the enjoyment of human rights in Crimea. 61 In its resolution 74/168, the General
Assembly supported the efforts of Ukraine to maintain economic, financial, political, social,
informational, cultural and other ties with its citizens in the occupied Crimea in order to
facilitate their access to democratic processes, economic opportunities and objective
information.
47.
OHCHR notes the efforts of the Government of Ukraine to improve the crossing
conditions at the Administrative Boundary Line. The Ukrainian authorities began
renovations of facilities in autumn 2019 with tangible results, including the provision of
additional sheltered areas and better sanitary facilities for that crossing. 62 During the
reporting period, the Ukrainian authorities pursued plans to open administrative service
centres in the direct vicinity of the crossing points, which could provide enhanced access
for residents of Crimea to Ukrainian public services.
48.
OHCHR reiterates its previous concerns about discrimination suffered by current
and former Crimean residents in access to banking services in parts of Ukraine outside
Crimea. For banking purposes, Ukrainian legislation treats as “non-residents” current
Crimean residents and residents outside Crimea with a Crimean registered address in their
passport. 63 This has the effect of excluding them from banking services or creating
significant obstacles for maintaining bank accounts and conducting financial transactions.
The law provides for the possibility of avoiding the effects of the non-resident status by
registering as an internally displaced person. However, this appears insufficient to
guarantee access to all banking transactions and services. OHCHR has documented a
pattern of obstacles experienced by internally displaced persons from Crimea in making
transactions and their continuous inability to regain access to their savings accounts in some
banks.64
49.
Residents of Crimea remained legally obliged to complete a judicial procedure
before being able to register a birth or a death that occurred in Crimea with the
administrative bodies in parts of Ukraine outside Crimea. 65 Consequently, unlike applicants
from the government-controlled areas, residents of Crimea face additional filing obligations
and costs which are likely to inhibit the swift registration of births and deaths. OHCHR
recalls that target 16.9 of the Sustainable Development Goals requires States to provide
legal identity for all, including birth registration, by 2030.66
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
12
Service, available in Russian only from
www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/population/demo/perepis_krim/perepis_krim.html.
21,385 of these individuals have permanent residence permits and 10,411 have temporary residence
permits, which is 15 per cent fewer than in 2018.
CCPR/C/MDA/CO/2, para. 5; and European Court of Human Rights, Ilascu and others v. Moldova
and Russia (application No. 48787/99), judgment of 8 July 2004, para. 331.
OHCHR, “Report on the human rights situation in Ukraine, 16 November 2019 to 15 February 2020”,
paras. 119–120. Available at www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/29thReportUkraine_EN.pdf.
Ukraine, Law on the establishment of the free economic zone “Crimea” and on the particularities of
economic activity in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine (12 August 2014). Available at
http://zakon2.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/1636-18?info=1, in Ukrainian only.
In 2018, OHCHR noted a persistent pattern of continuous violations of property rights of current and
former Crimean residents by the State-owned bank PrivatBank. OHCHR, “Report on the human
rights situation in Ukraine: 16 August to 15 November 2018”, paras. 106–107. Available at
www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/24thReportUkraineAugust_November2018_EN.pdf.
A special expedited procedure is foreseen under the Civil Procedure Code of Ukraine, art. 317.
For more information, see https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/indicators/database.
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