79 countries, including Georgia, back UN resolution on human rights situation in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on the situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The resolution passed with 79 votes in favour, with 16 against and 73 abstentions. Among the supporters was Georgia.

The document condemns Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine, reaffirms Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as rejects any attempts to change the status of the territories of Ukraine.

The resolution expresses serious concern about the militarisation of the occupied territories, the forced mobilisation of local residents, the persecution of journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society representatives by the Russian armed forces, as well as the destruction of cultural heritage, particularly in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The resolution is based on the findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry into crimes committed by Russia, which confirm cases of enforced disappearances and torture both in the occupied territories and in Russia itself.

The United Nations also demands that Russia immediately cease its aggression and withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine.