Moscow says Ukrainian law on "occupied territories" has nothing to do with real situation in Crimea
MOSCOW. April 29 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian law on the so-called "occupied territories" does not defend but limits rights of Crimean residents, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
"Essentially, it [the law] declares protecting rights and freedoms of Crimean residents but in reality it is targeted at their illegitimate restriction," Russian Foreign Ministry legal department deputy director Gennady Kuzmin said when speaking on Tuesday at a meeting of the working group under the State Duma chairperson for analyzing legislative procedures and legal acts passed in Ukraine.
This legislative act "simply has nothing to do with the real situation in Crimea," he said.
This law proves yet again the general direction of the current Ukrainian authorities' policy, which was carried out regarding Crimea in the past years and essentially explains the declaration of will of Crimean residents, who made a choice in favor of seceding from Ukraine, Kuzmin said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry is concerned about what is happening in Ukraine now, Kuzmin said. "Weak hope" existed that the situation would be brought to a legal course following the conclusion of the Geneva agreements after the four-party talks between Russia, the United States, European Union and Ukraine, he said. However, the recent events show that unfortunately negative tendencies are evident, he said. "It appears that a kind of witch hunt and pursuit of those thinking differently and disagreeing with the Maidan authorities have started in Ukraine," Kuzmin said.