Thank you.
A similar situation with respect to human rights exists in the Russian-occupied parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. Adding to the urgency and severity is the fact that Russia continues to wage a hot war that puts civilians directly at risk. Shelling of civilian targets by Russian and proxy forces is commonplace.
On May 28, a shell fired by Russian and proxy forces killed Daria Kazemirova, a 15-year-old girl in Zalizne. Several reports by human rights groups have documented irrefutable evidence of torture and ill treatment both of Ukrainian soldiers and of civilians held captive in the occupied territories. Cases have been documented of prisoners being killed or subjected to fake executions. Cases of sexual assault have also been documented, as has the recruiting of minors into illegal armed formations by Russian and proxy “authorities” in the occupied territories.
Recently, the joint investigation team into the downing of Flight MH17, in which all 298 passengers on board were killed, confirmed what the world has long known. Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down by a Russian Buk missile. These sophisticated weapons did not get to occupied Ukrainian territory on their own. Someone in the Russian chain of command gave the order to deploy the weapon. Someone even higher in the Russian chain of command gave that person the authority to issue such an order.
The Buk that brought down MH17 originates from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, a unit of the Russian army from Kursk. The downing of MH17 is an act of international terrorism to which the international community must respond with resolve. The UCC calls on the Government of Canada to work with allied nations to designate the Russian Federation a state sponsor of terrorism and to declare the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics terrorist organizations.
The egregious human rights violations perpetrated by the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea and the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts are a direct result of Russia's war against Ukraine. These violations will end only once Russia's war and the occupation of the Crimea and Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts ends.
In order to ensure peace returns to Europe, the international community must exert significantly more pressure on the Russian authorities and economy. If war is more expensive to the Kremlin than peace, Ukraine will have peace.
In April 2018, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on seven Russian oligarchs and 12 companies they own or control, 17 senior Russian officials, a state-owned Russian weapons trading company, and a subsidiary Russian bank. The U.S imposed the sanctions in response to Russia's continuing international malign activity, including Russian's invasion of Ukraine and its support for the murderous Assad regime in Syria.
The Government of Canada has not imposed any sanctions on Russian officials, companies, or sectors of the Russian economy since November 28, 2016. The UCC recommends that in the nearest possible time the Government of Canada implement mirror sanctions against the Russian officials and companies designated on April 6 by the U.S. Treasury, and that the Government of Canada strengthen sectoral, economic, and individual sanctions on Russia and Russian officials, including the removal of Russia from the SWIFT international payment system.
Canada, in co-operation with the EU, the G7, and other like-minded nations, should strengthen economic sanctions on Russia in order to exert pressure on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea and its invasion of eastern Ukraine.
With that, thank you for allowing us the opportunity to testify today. We of course welcome any questions you may have.