Ukraine wants not to admit documents of seafarers from the temporarily occupied territory

Photo: EPA

Ukraine urged the International Maritime organization (IMO) not to recognize the documents issued to seafarers in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. This is stated in the paper submitted by Ukraine to the fifth session of the Subcommittee on human element, training and Watchkeeping IMO in London, according to the Ukrainian Embassy in the UK.

“Any documents (both qualification and the seafarers’ identity document), issued after July 15, 2014 the so-called captains of sea ports… are invalid, do not generate any legal consequences and therefore should be considered fake,” the document says.

In his speech, the representative of Ukraine urged the States members of the IMO not to recognize the claims of Russia concerning the right of implementation of conventions of the organization, including the International Convention on training and certification of seafarers and Watchkeeping of 1978, on the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

According to the results of the discussion, delegations of the EU and the European Commission representative supported the position of the Ukrainian side and urged the States members of IMO to continue the policy of non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea.

Russia annexed the Crimea and Sevastopol after the military blockade of Ukrainian military units and illegal referendum on 16 March 2014. The annexation of Crimea by Russia is not recognised by Ukraine and most countries of the world.