Crimean Tatar Mejlis Rejects Russian Claims Over Crimea, Demanding International Action for Ukraine

The Mejlis  of the Crimean Tatar people opposes any proposals or actions aimed at recognizing Crimea and Sevastopol as part of Russia—neither de facto nor de jure.

This was stated in a declaration published on April 24 on their official website.

The statement emphasizes that any attempt to recognize Crimea as Russian would, among other things, constitute:

• A gross violation of the United Nations Charter, the Helsinki Final Act, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, numerous UN General Assembly resolutions, and other fundamental norms of international law;

• An infringement on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;

• A disregard for and violation of the inalienable rights of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people;

• An endorsement of the policy of ethnocide being carried out by the Russian occupying authorities against the Crimean Tatars;

• The creation of a dangerous precedent of impunity for the aggressor, where violations of internationally recognized borders of a sovereign state and the further legitimization of occupied territories by other nations would undermine the collective security system.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people stated that “the only legitimate way to end the Russia-Ukraine war and establish a guaranteed, just peace in the region is the deoccupation of Crimea and other occupied Ukrainian territories.”

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“Any other options could lead to consequences in which the suffering of people, including the indigenous Crimean Tatar people, due to the violation of their fundamental rights, could reach catastrophic proportions,” the statement reads.

The Mejlis calls on the international community to “show even greater solidarity with Ukraine and its people in their fight for freedom.”

“Now, decisive actions and measures to provide broad support to Ukraine in repelling Russian aggression—through military and economic aid, strengthening sanctions, political and diplomatic pressure on the aggressor, and legal protection for victims of Russian repression—will be of utmost importance and consequences,” the Mejlis added.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has endorsed recent statements made by US President Donald Trump regarding the status of Crimea, asserting that they “fully align with Russia’s position.”

Speaking during a press briefing on April 24, Peskov emphasized that Trump’s claim that Ukraine lost Crimea “many years ago,” is consistent with Moscow’s long-held narrative, according to Russian state media.

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