Ambassador Neil Holland condemns recent attacks by Russia and
reiterates UK support to Ukraine, including at the Warsaw Human
Dimension Conference 2023.
"Thank you, Mr Chair.
At yesterday’s Forum for Security Cooperation, Russia condemned
the ‘indiscriminate’ attacks by others on civilian targets. Mr
Chair, I would like to remind this Council that Russia is yet to
answer for their indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian
infrastructure in Ukraine. Russia has resisted
accountability.
There have been reports overnight of deaths in Zaporizhzhia
following Russian missile strikes. Russia is also still to answer
for the recent missile strike on the village of Hroza. On 5
October, as families gathered in the north-eastern Kharkiv region
to mourn and pay respects to a fallen Ukrainian soldier, the
funeral wake turned to bloodshed. What should have been a day of
mourning and closure, ended with the deceased person’s entire
immediate family also dead.
One in five of the people of Hroza were killed that day. This
attack was unprovoked and premeditated and our thoughts are with
the victims’ families and loved ones. As made clear during the
Special Permanent Council, the UK is appalled by Russia’s
barbaric killing of civilians, including children.
According to the UN, there have been 10,000 civilian deaths and
tens of thousands of casualties since Russia mounted its
full-scale invasion last year. Russia’s actions are an egregious
violation of international law including the UN
Charter.
The UK and our partners will continue to gather in this room and
stand united in condemning these brutal attacks. The UK and the
international community will continue to rally around Ukraine. We
will not stop until Ukraine wins.
I would like to thank our Chair in Office for hosting the 2023
Warsaw Human Dimension Conference against attempts to block it
from happening.
As Europe’s largest annual human rights Conference, this is yet
another strong signal of the OSCE’s commitment to human rights
and fundamental freedoms in the OSCE region. Events like this
exemplify the work of the OSCE.
We saw 1,500 participants from civil society, government and
academia gather. As ever, we were struck by the bravery of
individuals who came to Warsaw to share their stories and to
fight to protect fundamental human rights. The UK wants to assure
these individuals that we will not forget them, and we will do
our best to protect them.
Over the course of ten days, we heard first-hand of Russia’s
human rights violations against Russia’s own people and through
its illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The Conference
highlighted Russia’s absence and isolation. It also coincided
with the thirty-sixth report by the UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights. The report paints a stark picture
of the price that Ukrainians are paying for Russia’s war. It
details widespread torture, mock executions, and sexual
violence.
Mr Chair, for as long as Russia steps on and disregards human
rights, the UK and our international partners will continue to
hold them to account.
Thank you."
