Turkish MP says negotiation with Russia on freeing Crimean Tatar prisoners “not possible”
This was stated in an interview with Ukrinform by Yıldırım Tuğrul Türkeş, Chairman of the Türkiye-Ukraine Friendship Group of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye.
“Unlike many other countries, of course they (Crimean Tatars - ed.) are our kin. When you say Crimean Tatars, they are a part of the Turkish communities. Their being there, and more importantly their victimization, saddens us more and concerns us more. Compared to those living in another place in the world, in another country, this draws our attention more. There are also kinship ties. A part of those families is in Türkiye. A part of the family is here, a part is in Crimea. After that, for that reason, of course Crimea is one of our priority areas of interest,” the politician said.
He noted that Türkiye’s efforts to secure the release of political prisoners have had limited success due to Russia’s stance.
“The problem is that Russia says about the people in Crimea, ‘this is my citizen’, and does not subject them to a separate treatment. But regarding those from the Crimean Tatars in Crimea who are prisoners, who are in prison, who are in detention, a negotiation is not possible,” Türkeş said.
He added that the Crimean Tatar people hold a special place in relations between Türkiye and Ukraine.
Türkeş also spoke positively about Ukraine’s recognition of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People as the sole representative body of the Crimean Tatar people.
“We support the decisions taken there. It is technically not possible for us to produce a separate policy on these matters. Ukraine is a sovereign country, and the Crimean Tatars are also a part of the Ukrainian people... But we make efforts in the implementation of the decisions they take there, and for their being heard and promoted in the international arena,” he said.
As reported earlier by Ukrinform, since Russia’s occupation of Crimea, human rights defenders have verified 520 individuals prosecuted in politically motivated criminal cases. More than 270 of them are representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.
