01/13/2017

Russia: Appeal to Foreign Minister Steinmeier

The Russian Minister of Agriculture must not enter the country (Press Release)

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) sent an appeal to Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, asking him not to undermine the sanctions imposed on Russia by allowing the Russian Minister of Agriculture, Alexander Tkachev, to visit Germany, Photo: Kremlin.ru

On Friday, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) sent an appeal to Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, asking him not to undermine the sanctions imposed on Russia by allowing the Russian Minister of Agriculture, Alexander Tkachev, to visit Germany. “Tchachev’s name is on the sanctions list of the Council of the European Union for a reason. The listed people are not allowed to enter or travel through the EU because of the annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, which was against international law. Any exemptions will make the entire sanctions list implausible,” warned the STP. According to press reports, Tkachev will visit Berlin to take part in a G20-meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture on January 22.

At the time of the annexation in 2014, Tkachev was the governor of Krasnodar. He was not only one of the first to offer help to the new pro-Russian ruler in the Crimea, Sergey Aksonov. He also sent units of the Kuban-Cossacks – which are based in his government district – to “support” Crimea, the STP recalls. In June 2014, Tkatchov was awarded the medal for “the Liberation of Crimea” and is now in illustrious company, as the Chechen ruler Ramzan Kadyrov was honored with the medal as well. “In addition to the Cossacks, there were also Chechens among the so-called ‘self-defense forces’ who took over power in Crimea and who are clearly also responsible for serious human rights violations on the peninsula.”

In November 2016, the International Criminal Court had described the situation in Crimea as an “armed conflict”, and the UN has classified the peninsula as an “occupied area”. The human rights situation in Crimea has continued to deteriorate since the annexation. In December 2016 alone, there have been around 70 violations of fundamental human rights. The Crimean Tatars are especially affected by persecution and harassment.

Against this backdrop, it would be especially problematic if the Foreign Office were to agree on an exemption for Alexander Tkachev, the STP warned. This would have to be seen as an affront to Ukraine as well as to all democrats and human rights defenders in Russia.

Header Photo: Kremlin.ru