Comment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine on Imposition of Special Sectoral Economic and Other Restrictive Measures (Sanctions) Against Nicaragua

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the decision adopted today by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine reinforcing the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine from February 1, 2021 regarding the implementation of special sectoral economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against the Republic of Nicaragua.

The process of implementation of the restrictive measures was initiated by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba in August 2020 in response to the unfriendly actions of the Republic of Nicaragua which violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

In spite of the recurrent official warnings of Ukraine, on August 3, 2020 the President of the Republic of Nicaragua appointed Oleh Bielavientsev as a so-called “honorary consul of Nicaragua in the Republic of Crimea”. Mr. Bielavientsev was found guilty of the offence against territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, incitement to treason and waging aggressive war against Ukraine and sentenced to 13 years in prison by the decision of the Svyatoshyn District Court of Kyiv from March 18, 2019.

The aforementioned step of the Nicaraguan side is a violation of the Ukrainian legislation and of international law, namely the UN General Assembly Resolutions № 68/262 «Territorial integrity of Ukraine», «Situation with human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol (Ukraine)», as well as «Problem of the militarization of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov». It also demonstrated disregard of the Nicaraguan side of the lawful claims of Ukraine to respect its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Today Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by 322 votes adopted the decision to implement sanctions against Nicaragua, which will effectively protect the national interests of our country.

Ukraine will continue to resolutely defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized state border, which includes the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.