Russia is prison of nations: Kuleba urges OSCE to address Russian national minorities rights
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba (Photo: Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) needs to address the rights of national minorities in Russia. This issue should become a priority, announces the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, at a press conference with the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta, Ian Borg.
Kuleba reveals that during the negotiations with Borg, the issue of the rights of national minorities in the territory of Russia was raised, not only concerning the Ukrainian minority.
"Recent events in Ufa have shown that Russia is a prison of nations. The Bashkirs stood up to defend an activist whom the Kremlin is prosecuting for his anti-war stance (referring to protests following the verdict for Fail Alsynov - Ed.)," notes the Ukrainian minister.
He also emphasizes that Russia actively mobilizes representatives of national minorities for war against Ukraine, attempting to perpetuate aggression and conducting ethnic cleansing on its own territory.
"In the OSCE, there are instruments to protect the rights of national minorities, including the institution of the High Commissioner on National Minorities. We believe that this issue needs to be addressed closely," adds the head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He calls on the OSCE to make the protection of national minorities in Russia one of the priority issues on the agenda.
Protests in Ufa
A few weeks ago, in Ufa, hundreds of people began protesting after a Russian court sentenced activist Fail Alsynov to four years in prison.
He was accused of inciting hatred or enmity. The activist did not admit guilt.
In October of the previous year, the National Resistance Centre reported an increase in ethnic conflicts within the ranks of the Russian army.
