President Karis: Russia’s aggression cannot erase Ukraine’s sovereignty

While attending the UN General Assembly in New York, President Alar Karis took part in the Crimea Platform Summit on Wednesday 24 September on the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. The event aimed to draw world leaders' attention to the ongoing occupation of Crimea and to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

The head of state recalled the anniversary in July of the Welles Declaration, which 85 years ago saw the USA refuse to recognise the occupation of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union.

"That unwavering commitment to international law and justice gave hope to the people of Estonia, since it underscored that sovereignty cannot be annulled by aggression," he remarked. "We should be guided by that same principle today as Russia wages its brutal war against Ukraine, having occupied a fifth of the country and persisting with its illegal annexation of Crimea. We must remain steadfast in our non-recognition, just as the free world once stood firm for the Baltic nations."

President Karis condemned Russia for its human rights violations against civilians and indigenous peoples. "It is the Crimean Tatars in particular who are suffering most from the occupation and war of aggression in Crimea, though they are defying that oppression by standing up for free media and information," he explained, adding that illegitimate Russian courts have prosecuted more than 50 people this year for acts which the UN Human Rights Office has assessed as being legitimate instances of freedom of expression.

The head of state said that the 80th anniversary of the United Nations is a reminder of the very notion which led to its creation: a determination to prevent war and secure peace. "The founding principles of the UN maintain that borders cannot be altered by force and that neither sovereignty nor territorial integrity are matters for negotiation," he noted. "That is why I welcome the New York Declaration and reaffirm Estonia's commitment to championing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and around the world."

Gallery (Office of the President of the Republic/Raigo Pajula): https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBuyWV