Doc. 9423

24 April 2002

Rights of Ukrainian minorities who legally work in the countries of Europe

Written declaration No. 336

Over the last couple of years incidents involving Ukrainian workers who legally live and work in European countries have become more and more frequent and very often - with police participation.

For instance, on the 8th of March 2002 in the suburbs of Budapest, two Ukrainian citizens, Mr. Isak Yuriy and Mr. Tomashuk Vasyl were brutally beaten and robbed by three civilian men in the presence of two Hungarian policemen.

According to information obtained from the Ukrainian Embassy in the Republic of Hungary these persons legally worked at one of the construction companies in Budapest.

Moreover, the Embassy has made known that they have received complaints from Ukrainian people that the Hungarian police often behave very rudely and exceed their powers.

In most cases Ukrainian workers are afraid to appeal to the courts or any other official institution except the Embassy.

Legal foreign workers work in many countries including Ukraine and their rights and freedoms should be protected.

To summarise the above, the undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe appeal to the Hungarian government to ensure an objective investigation of the facts and to inform the Ukrainian government, Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, and the Council of Europe.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed : ¹

Kostytsky, Ukraine, EPP

Chaklein, Russia, UEL

Cosarciuc, Moldova, LDR

Gostev, Russia, UEL

Grzyb, Poland, PPE

Holovaty, Ukraine, LDR

Kovalev S., Russia, LDR

Kroll, Poland, EPP

Kuptsov, Russia, UEL

Landsbergis, Lithuania, EDG

Libane, Latvia, LDR

Lomakin-Rumiantsev, Russia, EDG

Neguta, Moldova, UEL

Patereu, Moldova, EPP

Podobnik, Slovenia, EPP

Popescu, Ukraine, SOC

Rogozin, Russia, EDG

Rustamyan, Armenia, SOC

Severinsen, Denmark, LDR

Seyidov S., Azerbaijan, EDG

Slutsky, Russia, SOC

Vahtre, Estonia, EPP

Wielowieyski, Poland, EPP

Wohlwend, Liechtenstein, EPP

Yarygina, Russia, SOC

Zhvania, Georgia, SOC

_____________

Total = 26

¹        SOC: Socialist Group

      EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

      EDG: European Democratic Group

      LDR: Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

      UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

      NR: not registered in a group