Indigenous peoples and human rights organizations express solidarity with indigenous peoples of Ukraine

21.07.2017 11:40

Ukrinform

Indigenous peoples and human rights organizations have expressed solidarity with the indigenous peoples of Ukraine (Crimea): Crimean Tatars, Karaites and Krymchaks and called on both Russia and Ukraine to respect the self-determination of the indigenous peoples of Crimea and support their natural rights.

The corresponding petition has been posted on the Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

"We, the representatives of the Indigenous Peoples and Non-governmental Human Rights Organizations, taking part in the 10th Session of UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Geneva, Switzerland, express our highest concerns for the situation of Human Rights in Crimea," the petition says.

The representatives of the indigenous peoples and non-governmental human rights organizations also state that they wish to draw, in particular, the attention to the Indigenous Peoples of Crimean Tatars, Karaites and Krymchaks and who are under the pressure of both sides of the powerbrokers.

The petition also points that the Indigenous representative organization, such us Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and Indigenous non-governmental organizations in Crimea are under particular pressure and need protection, respect and support.

"We therefore ask both the states, Russia and Ukraine to respect the self-determination of the Indigenous Peoples of the Crimea and uphold their freedom of speech and all ancestral rights," the petition notes.