Crimean Official Invites UN Special Rapporteur To Assess Harm Caused By Kiev Policy

SIMFEROPOL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd March, 2019) UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development Saad Alfarargi is welcomed to visit Crimea and to estimate the damage caused by Kiev's aggressive policy, Head of the Working Group on International Legal Issues at the Crimean Permanent Representation with the Russian President Alexander Molokhov told Sputnik on Thursday.

"Unfortunately, Kiev authorities continue the policy of total violation of the Crimean people's rights and keep on trying to blockade the Crimean Peninsula. All these actions damage and limit the peninsula's right to development. UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development Saad Alfarargi can come to Crimea in person and observe the Kiev's aggressive and flawed policy," Molokhov said.

He also added that Crimea was absolutely open to international monitoring groups that are seeking an objective image of the life on the peninsula.

Molokhov is participating in the 40th Session of the UN Human Rights Council that is taking place in Geneva at the moment.

The peninsula rejoined Russia on March 18, 2014 following a regional referendum, in which the absolute majority of local residents expressed their willingness to reunite with Russia. Ukraine still considers Crimea to be part of its territory, calling it "temporarily occupied." Russian authorities, in turn, maintain that the referendum was legitimate being carried out in accordance with international law and the UN Charter.

According to Crimean officials, being a part of Ukraine cost Crimea up to trillions of rubles. As First Vice-Speaker of the Crimean Parliament Yefim Fix said, there are lots of enterprises and facilities on the peninsula that were damaged or destroyed by the Kiev authorities' actions.