Accessibility links

Breaking News

Participants At Crimean Tatar Congress Condemn Crimea Annexation


Participants at the second World Congress of Crimean Tatars condemned Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea, as the gathering opened in the Turkish capital, Ankara, on August 1.

"The first condition in order to achieve world peace, and peace among the people of Crimea, is to end the occupation of our homeland," said Refat Chubarov, the chairman of the Mejlis, an assembly for Crimean Tatars.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Kimkin said the annexation of Crimea in March 2014 "is temporary-- because it is illegal."

Kimkin was attending the congress in a show of solidarity with the Crimean Tatar community.

He said Ukraine wouldn't have normal relations with Russia until Crimea was returned to Ukraine and the Tatars who call it home.

The 300,000-strong Muslim minority make up less than 15 percent of Crimea's population of 2 million.

They were overwhelmingly opposed to the annexation.

Some 200 Crimean Tatars from various countries were expected to attend the two-day event.

Russian authorities blocked two local Crimean Tatar leaders from leaving Crimea on July 28 which prevented them from attending the congress.

Based on reporting by Reuters and turkishweekly.net

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG