Mr. Chairperson,

The delegation of Ukraine shares deep concern of the Republic of Moldova caused by further deterioration of the human rights situation on the ground in Moldova`s region of Transdniestria. 

Having made unilateral steps on installing illegal control posts in the Security Zone and maintaining them until now, the de facto Transdniestrian authorities have explicitly posed severe constraints to freedom of movement of thousands of people on the both banks of the Dniester river. As a result, many of these people are reported to suffer from the lack of access to their homes, relatives, jobs and medical services. We strongly condemn such actions and reiterate the necessity to remove newly established control posts and come back to agreed practices of entry-exit procedures in the Security Zone.

The disturbing individual cases of human rights violations in the Transdniestrian region, which have been reported by the delegation of the Republic of Moldova, must not be left without proper reaction of the OSCE. In this regard, Ukraine fully supports the Republic of Moldova’s call on the necessity to give an additional priority to human rights dimension within wider efforts to resolve this protracted conflict.

Ukraine again urges the de facto Transdniestrian authorities not to use the anti-Covid-19 activities for political reasons and namely for improper large-scale human rights violations. Such actions not only critically influence people’s lives on the ground, but also blatantly undermine further dialogue to resolve the conflict.

In this vein, we commend Chisinau’s interest in holding «5+2» meeting as soon as possible, as well as its adherence to negotiation process, and call on the other side to reciprocate.

As a state-guarantor and mediator in the negotiation process, Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to keep efforts aimed at finding sustainable solution to the Transdniestrian conflict based on the principles of full respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova within its internationally recognized borders with a special status for Transdniestria within the Republic of Moldova.

Thank you, Mr. Chairperson.