Ukraine, EU concerned over human rights situation in Crimea, Donbas

"The EU and Ukraine expressed grave concern over the further deterioration of the human rights situation on the Crimean peninsula, including the situation of Crimean Tatars, following its illegal annexation by [Russia]," the press release said. The EU and Ukraine "also called for the immediate release of illegally detained Ukrainian citizens in Russia and the Crimean peninsula," reads the report. The parties raised ways to mitigate the humanitarian impact on civilians of the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and discussed the ways to protect the human rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs). "The EU also called for further progress to be made in the investigations into the crimes committed during the EuroMaidan protests, and the violent events in Odesa in May 2014, […] and to bring to justice those responsible," the press release said. The decision to block a number of Russian-based online services was also addressed. Also on the agenda of the Dialogue was non-discrimination policy, including the rights of LGBTI persons and those belonging to ethnic, linguistic, religious and national minorities, and the rights of the child. Gender equality and women's rights, especially domestic violence, were raised and the EU encouraged Ukraine to ratify the Istanbul Convention.