The Ukrainian President has unlawfully imposed, without any court decision, sanctions against several Ukrainian citizens, including the leader of the party “Opposition Platform – For Life” – the biggest opposition party – Viktor Medvedchuk and has blocked the functioning of TV companies that reflect the views of the opposition. Shortly after, on 13 May 2021, the Kyiv Court sent Viktor Medvedchuk under house arrest for “high treason”.
Such actions are in complete contradiction with the right to freedom of expression, protected by Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which includes freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference from public authority and regardless of frontiers. The current absence of a strong international reaction condemning these actions – especially from the Council of Europe – is tantamount to justifying the continuation of such antidemocratic behaviour.
Mr Tolstoi
To ask the Committee of Ministers:
How does the Committee of Ministers intend to react in this case to the violation of the fundamental rights and freedoms established by the European Convention on Human Rights?