On March 24 The European Parliament Subcommittee on Security and Defense, together with the EP Delegation to EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee held a special session "Militarization of Crimea and security situation a year after the illegal annexation by Russia."

Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov, Crimean and Simferopol Archbishop Clyment, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the EU Kostiantyn Yelisieiev and expert Irina Brunova-Kalisetska were invited to participate in the meeting.

Special hearings created an opportunity to assess the political, legal, humanitarian and military implications of 1 year of Crimea under Russian occupation.

During the event, representatives of the Ukrainian side informed MEPs in detail about massive human rights violations in the Crimean peninsula, oppression of media, limitation of the right of freedom of expression and religion, pressure on the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar activists. The members of the European Parliament were as well informed about the steps of the occupation authorities aimed at the destruction of any kind of Ukrainian identity on Crimean Peninsula.

"The war against Ukraine began with the occupation of the Crimea. The war can be stopped only with its liberation, "- said R.Chubarov.

Attention was also draw to the film, demonstrated by Russian TV, which was a direct confession of President Putin in the aggression against the sovereignty of the Ukrainian state, which must receive adequate international assessment, both political and legal. There was also stressed necessity of unconditional pursuance by the EU countries the unrecognition policy regarded the annexed Crimea.

"EU policy towards Russia, including sanctions, may change only when Ukrainian sovereignty will be restored over the Crimea. We have no right to allow the triumph of expansionism and revanchism", - noted the Representative of Ukraine to the EU Kostiantyn Yelisieiev.

The debate has once again demonstrated uncompromising support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine's from the leading political forces of the European Union. MEPs strongly condemned Russia's policy, which continues to deny any involvement in the destabilization of the situation in Ukraine, and is a direct threat to peace and security in Europe.

Special hearings on the situation in Crimea was organized upon the request from Ukrainian side.