KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th November, 2018) The rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens may be restricted during the martial law period in case of the further escalation of tensions, National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksandr Turchynov said.
On Monday, the NSDC decided to impose martial law on the territory of Ukraine for a period of 60 days after the incident in the Kerch Strait. The chief of the Ukrainian General Staff has ordered to put the country's armed forces on full combat alert. The Ukrainian parliament supported introduction of the martial law for 30 days in selected regions of the country.
"In connection with introduction of the martial law in Ukraine, the constitutional rights and freedoms of people and citizens of Ukraine may be - I point out [the word] 'may' - restricted during the martial law period in line with the laws and constitution of Ukraine," Turchynov said on late Monday, presenting the presidential decree on the martial law to the country's parliament.
He pointed out that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had no plans to restrict the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens but that may be done in case of further deterioration of the situation.
"In case of deterioration of the situation, escalation of tensions, boost of the Russian aggression we must have such an instrument and such an opportunity [to restrict rights and freedoms] during the martial law period," Turchynov added.
On Sunday, Ukraine's Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats and the Yany Kapu tug crossed the Russian maritime border. According to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), the vessels sailed towards the Kerch Strait, an entrance to the Sea of Azov, where the ships were seized by Russia due to the lack of reply to a lawful demand to stop.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Moscow would suppress any attempts to challenge its sovereignty and security. The ministry added that the actions conducted by Kiev in coordination with the United States and the European Union and aimed at provocations in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, may lead to serious consequences. Similarly, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the detention was only a reaction from the Russian side to the entry of foreign military ships into Russia's territorial waters.
