Ukraine wants the European Court of Human Rights to condemn as illegal Russia's recent capturing of the crews of several Ukrainian naval vessels, a senior Ukrainian official said Monday.
Ukraine "demands that the court acknowledge the fact of the violation by the Russian Federation of the rights of 24 Ukrainian seamen during the illegal attack," Ukrainian Deputy Justice Minister Ivan Lishchyna said.
The Ukrainian government filed a statement for the case with the Strasbourg-based court on Monday, Lishchyna said in a post on his Facebook page.
Ukraine is seeking the immediate release of the captured sailors. Russian authorities allege that the sailors unlawfully crossed into Russian territorial waters.
Russian forces opened fire during the late November incident near the disputed Crimea region. Russia annexed the region from neighbouring Ukraine nearly five years ago to international outcry.
Relations between Ukraine and Russia have plummeted to an all-time low since the annexation.
Ukraine ,demands that the court acknowledge the fact of the violation by the Russian Federation of the rights of 24 Ukrainian seamen during the illegal attack,, Ukrainian Deputy Justice Minister Ivan Lishchyna said.
