Moderator: Andriy KULYKOV, Chairman of NGO «Hromadske Radio», professional TV and Radio host
Keynote speaker: Refat CHUBAROV, Head of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people
List of Participants:
- Emine DZHAPAROVA, First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine;
- Iryna VENEDIKTOVA, Prosecutor General of Ukraine;
- Ana FOTYGA, Member of the European Parliament, the Secretary-General of the European Conservatives and Reformists Party;
- Ojārs KALNIŅŠ, Co-chairmen of Ukraine-NATO Interparliamentary Council (Latvia);
- Ahmet YILDIZ, Chairperson of National delegation of Turkey to the PACE;
- Hovard MORRISSON (online), Judge of the International Criminal Court 2011-2021.
The occupation of Crimea resulted in disruption of the established system of governance, demolition of the fundamental civil society institutes and elaboration of a mechanism of politically motivated prosecutions and repressions to control residents of Crimea, who did not support the occupation.
The international community is witnessing today an illegal colonization of the peninsula by the aggressor state that violently changes the demographic structure of Crimea through deportations and displacement of the residents of Crimea, replacing them by its own citizens. The Crimean Tatar people and ethnic Ukrainians face particular harassments. Numerous violations of political and cultural rights, including the ban of the representative institution – Medjlis of the Crimean Tatar people, violation of the right to learn in mother tongue, as well as forced disappearances, murders, abusive raids and detentions are all proofs of racial discrimination against the Crimean Tatars. As a result, a system of the Crimean Tatars’ national institutions in the occupied territory of Crimea was destroyed, national leaders were forced to leave the peninsula and could not return due to persecutions
Restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people and protection of their identity is an important element of the de-occupation process.
De-occupation of Crimea is a pressing challenge for Ukraine and the whole world. How it will be resolved will define the future of Crimea’s reintegration that depends on the consolidation of international efforts and proper coordination with our foreign partners on this track.