"The conditions for Crimea's reintegration must be laid before liberation, as almost 1 mln Russians have illegally settled there" - Crimean Tatar leader Refat Chubarov

The head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov said this on Espreso TV. 

“We must lay down the conditions for reintegration now, before de-occupation. And reintegration must begin together with de-occupation. In particular, we are talking about the decolonization of Crimea, which means the expulsion of almost a million Russian citizens who illegally settled in temporarily occupied Crimea,” he said.

The head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people noted that the Russians, who illegally settled on the temporarily occupied peninsula, will prevent Ukraine from carrying out reintegration.

“And this is also part of reintegration, because we will not be able to do anything in Crimea from the moment Ukraine's state sovereignty is restored, if these people continue to live there and interfere with us,” he added.

• On August 15, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, created the Advisory Council on Deoccupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territory of Crimea and Sevastopol.

• Transitional justice for Crimea must take into account all aspects of life during the occupation - this process is very complex.

• It is time to speak out and develop an official political position on what the status of Crimea will be after the end of the war and the return of control over it.