There will be no lasting peace without liberation of Crimea – Mejlis Chairman Refat Chubarov
On the Day of Resistance, Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, emphasised that the Crimean issue must remain relevant despite Russia’s efforts to portray it as a settled issue. At the “11 Years of War: Crimea – Starting Point” Forum, Chubarov appealed to the international community to ensure that all discussions about Crimea must include both the Indigenous Crimean Tatar population and the Ukrainian state.
“On the Day of Resistance, we again emphasize that the Crimean issue must remain relevant despite Russia’s attempts to present it as already resolved. We appeal to the international community to ensure that any discussions about Crimea and Ukraine take place only with the participation and consent of the Indigenous Crimean Tatar people and the Ukrainian state,” stated Chubarov.
He underscored the principle: “Crimea is Ukraine, nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, nothing about Crimea without the Crimean Tatar people.”
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During the Forum, Chubarov expressed gratitude to partners for supporting and participating in the struggle for freedom and independence. He thanked everyone who joined the Security and Armed Forces of Ukraine and all citizens in Crimea who remained loyal to Ukraine during the occupation.
The Mejlis Chairman emphasised that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and world leaders should proceed from the fact that “Crimea is the cradle of the Crimean Tatar people, their native land, and an inseparable part of the Ukrainian state”.
“Russia has turned Crimea into a military base, and the occupation administration is carrying out repressions and criminal conscription of the population of Crimea,” Chubarov said.
He reminded the audience that Reshat Ametov became the first victim of the occupation, but the repressions continue to this day.
“To this date, the occupiers have illegally imprisoned 221 people, 137 of whom are Crimean Tatars. However, despite everything, Crimea continues to resist, hundreds of Crimeans are defending Ukraine as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and hundreds are in Russian prisons for their pro-Ukrainian stance,” Refat Chubarov added.
The Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People stated that any proposals for Ukraine to cede its territories must be rejected. He stressed that without the liberation of Crimea, there can be no lasting peace that will ensure freedom and security for all Ukrainian citizens.
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During her speech at the Forum, the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Olha Kuryshko stressed that the aggressor state must be held accountable for its crimes. She added that imposing harsh sanctions against the Russian Federation, political and military support for Ukraine, and rulings by international courts are key steps toward victory.
Olha Kuryshko“Every sanction, every decision, every action in support of Ukraine is another step toward Crimea’s liberation. The Crimea Platform is our joint international forum that works to free the peninsula from the aggressor,” the Permanent Representative stated.
