Foreign ministers of six countries issue statement on anniversary of Crimean Tatars’ deportation

This is stated in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of six countries on the 76th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people.

The diplomats noted that the tragedy of the Crimean Tatar people of May 18, 1944, when the Soviet regime criminally deported the Crimean Tatar people from the territory of their historic residence - Crimea, repeated in 2014, when the Russian Federation seized and illegally attempted to annex Crimea, which is an integral part of Ukraine.

"It is no coincidence that Russia, which glorifies Stalin's totalitarian regime, continues its criminal policy in the 21st century in the temporarily occupied Crimea: ban the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, systemic repressions, persecution and violations of the rights of Crimean Tatars, who opposed Russia's armed aggression against the territorial integrity of Ukraine. It forced thousands of Crimean Tatars, indigenous people of Crimea, to leave their homes and move to mainland Ukraine,” reads the statement.

The six foreign ministers honoured the memory of numerous innocent victims of Stalin's deportation of the Crimean Tatar people. "We express our support to the Crimean Tatar people in their struggle for their rights. We emphasize the inviolability of sovereignty, territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders and political independence of Ukraine,” they stated.

The diplomats condemned Russia's aggressive policy towards Ukraine and new repressions against the Crimean Tatar people. "We call upon Russia to stop violations of the fundamental principles of international law, implement fully UN General Assembly resolutions on Situation of human rights in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, and comply with the demands of the international community regarding the deoccupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol,” they stressed.

Whatever attempts Russia undertakes to legitimize its occupation of the peninsula, the fact remains undisputed: Crimea is Ukraine.

May 18, Ukraine honors the victims of deportation of the Crimean Tatar people and marks the Day of Struggle for the Rights of the Crimean Tatar People.

The deportation of the Crimean Tatars began at 03:00 on May 18, 1944 and lasted until the beginning of June.

ish