Issues in the Realization of Education Rights by Ukrainian Citizens Living on Occupied Territories

The right to education is one of the fundamental and non-dispersable human rights. Novel history views the full realization of just this right as one of the fundamental guarantees of the growing youth’s future life sustainability and stability. The article is focused on the issues in the realization and protection of education rights of Ukrainian citizens living on occupied territories (Crimea, certain regions of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, as well as the regions neighboring these territories) and the citizens who moved from occupied territories. The mentioned categories of citizens, due to antiterrorist operation, the operation of joint forces, Russian Federation occupation of Crimea, got discriminated in comparison to the other Ukrainian citizens in many legal aspects, including education rights (both rights for general, higher and professional education) realization. The problems in the realization of this right have touched not only the ones currently in the process of obtaining education but also the subjects providing these services (educational institutions of all accreditation levels). Novel Ukrainian education legislation provides a set of preferential treatment regimes in order to make the status of the educational institutions and citizens having moved from the occupied territories more equal. Nevertheless, not all legislation novels fully fulfill this aim, specifically due to the quality of the legislation being constantly in change, as well as social changes occurring on occupied and adjusting territories. The conclusions made by the author support better understanding of the issues in education rights realization and the ways of addressing these issues.