25 signatures reached
To: Minister Simon Coveney, Minister Charles Flanagan, Junior Minister Sean Sherlock
Maintain the Sanctions Against Russian War Criminals
We petition you to demand an extension of the sanctions currently imposed by the E.U. against Russia for their military aggression against Ukraine (1). The threat that Russia presents to Ukraine is still present. Also, it is evident by the ongoing and escalating Russian military intervention in Syria and its staunch backing of the brutal and oppressive Assad regime that it has no regard for the welfare of civilians anywhere. The airstrikes that the Russian military has been carrying out in Syria have overwhelmingly been targeting civilian areas that are controlled by the opposition rebel forces and not against IS, as Russia claims (2).
Lifting sanctions against Russia now would, in effect, be condoning its actions against civilians in Syria and would be an endorsement of its support of the Assad regime which has been responsible for over 95% of civilian deaths in the war (3) and the major cause of the appalling refugee crisis now being seen in Europe. It would also be disregarding the ongoing threat by Russia to civilians in Ukraine.
1.http://europa.eu/newsroom/highlights/special-coverage/eu_sanctions/index_en.htm EU sanctions against Russia over Ukraine crisis
2. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/12/syria-russias-shameful-failure-to-acknowledge-civilian-killings/ Syria: Russia’s shameful failure to acknowledge civilian killings
3. https://diary.thesyriacampaign.org/whats-happening-to-civilians-in-syria Syria. The facts & figures.
Why is this important?
In spite of E.U. sanctions against Russia for their role in destabilising Ukraine and annexing parts of the country, on December 7th, 2015, a 16-strong trade delegation led by Minister of State Sean Sherlock under the auspices of the Joint Economic Commission – Russia/Ireland, went to Moscow "to build on our existing excellent relationships"(1). Meanwhile Russia is bombing and killing hundreds of innocent civilians in Syria.
According to the respected Syria Network for Human Rights, Russian airstrikes since September 30th until December 1st, 2015, have targeted markets, mosques, bakeries, killing 583 individuals - 570 of whom were civilians, including 152 children and 60 women. A recent report from Human Rights Watch also highlighted Russian extensive use of cluster bombs (2). The Convention on Cluster Munitions which banned their use under any circumstances, was actually adopted in Dublin on 30th May 2008. Their use also violates United Nations Resolution 2139 which demanded that all parties involved in Syria end “indiscriminate employment of weapons in populated areas" (3). Russia also vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court (4).
The Amnesty International report of December 23rd, 2015, in effect corroborates and elaborates on the substance of these earlier (SNR, HRW) reports in laying out egregious violations of human rights and international law perpetrated by the Russian military.
Please sign this petition to ensure that our government does not support the lifting of current E.U. sanctions against Russia when they are due for renewal.
1. http://www.intellinews.com/irish-government-gets-primed-for-lifting-of-sanctions-against-russia-86361 Irish government gets primed for lifting of sanctions against Russia
2. https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/12/20/russia/syria-extensive-recent-use-cluster-munitions Russia/Syria: Extensive Recent Use of Cluster Munitions
3. http://www.un.org/press/en/2014/sc11292.doc.htm Security Council Unanimously Adopts Resolution 2139 (2014) to Ease Aid Delivery to Syrians, Provide Relief from ‘Chilling Darkness’
4. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27514256 Russia and China veto UN move to refer Syria to ICC