Ukraine has outlawed any contractual relations with Crimea and Sevastopol

Simferopol, April 29 (Navigator, Astra Yazyka) – The Ukrainian authorities have outlawed any treaties and agreements with the leadership of Crimea. Having signed the law “On ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens and the legal regime in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine”, acting. President Alexander Turchynov put an end to the supply of Dnieper water to the peninsula, gave the go-ahead to limit energy supplies and introduced special permits for foreigners wishing to enter Crimea from mainland Ukraine.

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In accordance with the law that has entered into force, Ukraine undertakes to maintain and ensure economic, financial, political, social, informational, cultural and other relations with citizens of the country living in the temporarily occupied territory - in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

At the same time, all responsibility for violation of the legal rights and freedoms of citizens rests with the Russian Federation, as the occupying state, as well as compensation for material and moral damage caused by the occupation. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will monitor the observance of rights and freedoms, receiving data from the Ombudsman from the Verkhovna Rada, and transmitting information to international organizations.

At the same time, Ukraine does not recognize the newly created authorities of Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as any document adopted by them. According to the law, such acts do not carry any legal consequences. Interaction between government bodies of Ukraine and “illegal bodies (officials) created in the temporarily occupied territory” is allowed only with the consent of the Verkhovna Rada in order to restore the constitutional order. Thus, there is no legal basis for signing an agreement on the supply of water to the peninsula via the North Crimean Canal, and any agreement between the authorities of Crimea and Ukraine does not carry obligations for its implementation by Kiev.

Separately, the law stipulates changes in the conditions of electricity supplies to the occupied territory. The legal regime for the sale and transfer of electricity is instructed to establish by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine within 15 days after the law enters into force, i.e. by May 11.

By this date, the Cabinet of Ministers must also develop and approve the procedure for paying pensions and other social benefits to Ukrainian citizens who live in Crimea if they do not receive corresponding payments from the Russian Federation. At the same time, all residents of the republic and Sevastopol remain citizens of Ukraine, since “forced automatic acquisition” of citizenship is not recognized and is not a basis for deprivation of Ukrainian citizenship. In confirmation of this, residents of Crimea and Sevastopol can exercise their right to vote in presidential, parliamentary elections and referendums by traveling to the mainland of Ukraine. The Central Election Commission has been tasked with developing the procedure and mechanism for the implementation of civil rights in the presidential elections on May 25.

Entry and exit from the occupied territory for citizens of Ukraine is not limited if they have a civil passport. A special permit for passing through checkpoints on the border with Crimea will be required for foreigners and stateless persons. The procedure for receiving it will be determined by the Cabinet of Ministers by May 11.

Ukraine reserved the right to all natural resources of Crimea, including atmospheric air and the continental shelf, as well as to state property and the property of the Ministry of Defense. In parallel, the law obliges the Cabinet of Ministers to ensure the removal of property of government bodies, state-owned enterprises, institutions and organizations from the occupied territory.

The specifics of economic activity on the territory of the peninsula will be stipulated in a separate law, which will also have to be developed by the Cabinet of Ministers, as well as providing funding from the state budget for all activities related to the social security of Crimeans, and creating a special department for issues of the occupied territory. Separately, the law contains a recommendation to the National Bank of Ukraine to adopt regulatory legal acts, the essence and focus of which is not specified.

Let us recall that the original version of the bill provided for a special permit to enter and exit Crimea for all citizens without registration in populated areas of the peninsula. The special permit fell within the competence of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Service of Ukraine.
The draft also contained a direct ban on carrying out economic activities subject to licensing, organizing transportation by any type of transport and money transfers.

The Law “On ensuring the rights and freedoms of citizens and the legal regime in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine” was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on April 15 and came into force on April 27 of this year. The law will be in force “until the restoration of the constitutional order of Ukraine in Crimea and Sevastopol.”