Kyiv demands Russia free Chiygoz, stop repression of Crimean Tatars

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine expresses its strong protest in connection with the illegal sentencing by the Russian occupation authority in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea of Ukrainian citizen Akhtem Chiygoz to eight years in prison. The repression by the Russian occupation forces of deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Chiygoz for his support of Ukraine's territorial integrity and struggle for human rights is another manifestation of the repressive policy by the Russian Federation on the Crimean peninsula in order to suppress dissent and opposition to the Kremlin's regime, discrimination of the Crimean Tatars," reads the statement.

The ministry demanded that Russia free Chiygoz and stop repressions against the Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians in the occupied Crimea and restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

"We call on the international community to consistently respond to the cynical violations of human rights in Crimea and strengthen political and diplomatic pressure on the Kremlin in order to return an aggressor state to the international and legal field," the ministry said.

As reported, on September 11, a "court" in Crimea sentenced deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Chiygoz to eight years in prison.

Chiygoz was arrested in January 2015 for participating in a rally in support of the territorial integrity of Ukraine in front of the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea on February 26, 2014. At that time the protesters were opposed by pro-Russian activists, in particular, from the Russian Unity Party. The Russian authorities of the annexed Crimea accused Chiygoz of organizing mass riots.

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