Thank you, Mr. Vice President

Albania thanks the Deputy High Commissioner, for the update today and reiterates its full support to the work of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission and their contribution.

The Russian aggression in Ukraine has significantly impacted the civilian population in the country leading to grave human rights abuses from occupied power.  We share the same concerns with the Deputy High Commissioner about the situation of human rights in Ukraine, especially during the occupation and the critical impact of this policy to the civil population.

Albania remains deeply concerned about the violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights law concerning the treatment of prisoners of war, practice of arbitrary detention and torture or ill-treatment against civilians, sexual violence, and other grave violations as the last OHCHR report indicated. The Russian occupation during these two years led to intimidation, repression, a constant threat of violence, detention, and punishment, with no accountability for serious violations. Russian armed forces and occupying authorities stifled free expression, restricted access to information, imposed Russian systems, and suppressed in Ukraine culture and identity.

We reiterate our strong support to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Albania continues to underscore the importance of safeguarding civilian lives, ensuring their rights are upheld even in times of crisis and the need to hold all the perpetrators of human rights violations responsible for their actions.

Thank you.