A year has passed since Russian military forces took control of key government buildings and infrastructure in Crimea. The population faced a choice at the polls: join Russia or call for Crimea's independence. Two days later, the Russian Federation moved to annex Ukrainian territory, disrupting decades of international order and drawing condemnation from democratic societies worldwide.
Over the past year, human rights conditions in Crimea have worsened significantly. There has been increased repression of minority communities and faiths, particularly affecting Crimean Tatars. Fundamental freedoms are systematically denied, with local residents detained, interrogated, or disappeared. NGOs and independent media have been expelled from the peninsula. "These brutalities are unacceptable and we call on Russia to stop further abuses," reads a statement.
As Russia seeks to validate its actions in Crimea this week, sanctions related to the region will remain as long as the occupation continues. The United States maintains its support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and right to self-determination.
The US calls on President Putin to end the occupation of Crimea.