KIEV, April 15 (RAPSI) - Ukraine has filed its first lawsuits against Russia with international courts, including the European Court of Human Rights, according to Ukrainian Minister of Justice Pavel Petrenko.

“We have forwarded the first package of documents regarding the dispute between Ukraine and Russia. I’m talking mainly about the case to be considered by the European Court of Human Rights on the violation of the rights of Ukrainian citizens in Crimea,” the minister said on the Ukraina TV network Tuesday night.

Specifically, the claim concerns Ukrainians being forced to apply for Russian citizenship.

Crimea, a largely Russian-speaking republic within Ukraine, was part of Russia until it was given to Ukraine by Khrushchev in 1954. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an official address to federal and regional officials that the decision was made in clear violation of the constitutional standards of the time.

Crimea moved for independence from Ukraine after having refused to recognize the legitimacy of the new government that came to power following the ouster of President Viktor Yanukovych in February.

On March 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree recognizing Crimea as an independent state. The same day, the leaders of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol and Putin signed a treaty unifying Crimea with Russia.