Concessions for peace that may affect Crimean Tatars’ rights are unacceptable

Just as Sevastopol will be Ukrainian, where we are going to hold a victory parade, which will be the final testament to the victory of the heroic Ukrainian Armed Forces and the entire Ukrainian people. 

We are grateful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which are now launching a counter-offensive to liberate the territory of Ukraine. Every day they bring the liberation of the entire territory of Ukraine and our Victory closer. 

All Ukrainian citizens who are currently in Crimea should know that the time will soon come for their liberation from Russian occupation.

Obviously, we will support any state measures aimed at achieving these goals. We welcome the support of our allies who participate in the Crimean Platform and help us with weapons, economic support and care for Ukrainian refugees, especially women, children and the elderly.  

“At the same time, we must not forget about one of the basic obligations of the Ukrainian state, i.e., the recognition of the territorial and national autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people at the legislative level. With the guarantee of participation of representatives of the Crimean Tatars in the authorities, development of their self-government, culture, education, economy and customs.”

This is our obligation for the patriotism and heroic struggle of the Crimean Tatars in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Resistance Movement in the occupied territories. We owe this to dozens of Crimean Tatars who are political prisoners in Russia.  

We must remember that in 1944, the Crimean Tatar people suffered genocide committed by Stalin. Since 2014, this policy has been continued by the international criminal Putin.

We must make every effort to ensure that those members of the Crimean Tatar people who were forced to leave the peninsula return to it, that those who have suffered persecution and harm receive compensation and feel free to live on their native land in a free Ukraine.

Any attempts to obtain peace at the cost of any concessions that may adversely affect the rights of Crimean Tatars are unacceptable. 

About the author. Mykola Kniazhytskyi, journalist, Member of Parliament of Ukraine.

The editorial staff do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.