Meijlis concerned about people disappearing in Crimea, asking assistance from international human rights advocates

The Meijlis of the Crimean Tatar people have appealed to a number of international organizations in connection with frequent cases of people going missing on the peninsula.

In particular, an appeal titled ‘Prevention of cases of abduction and disappearances in Crimea’, adopted at a meeting of the Meijlis, has been sent to the United Nations Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as well as a number of international human rights organizations.

According to the appeal, in recent months Crimean society has faced a very dangerous phenomenon previously uncharacteristic of Crimea—kidnapping. The Meijlis cite the example of Reshat Ametov’s kidnapping in early March. Ametov, the father of three young children, was later found brutally tortured.

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Dzhemilev: Ukraine gave us freedom, we will not get used to Putin’s regime

The leader of the Crimean-Tatar people, member of the Ukrainian Parliament Mustafa Dzhemilev expressed his hope that the statement made by the new President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko regarding the return of Crimea to Ukraine becomes reality. However he assured that the Crimean Tatars would not resort to violence over their unwillingness to live on the peninsula annexed by Russia. Mustafa Dzhemilev also stated that currently the Crimean Tatars have lost their most important achievement under Russian occupation – freedom. 

Crimean Authorities Impose Censorship in Connection with Dzhemilev and Mejlis

Crimean Tatar editorial staff of the State Television and Radio Company (STRC) Krym (Crimea) were verbally ordered to “stop showing” the leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev, as well as Mejlis members, an informed source at the STRC confirmed in a statement to Ukrainska Pravda. According to the report, Crimea’s new “authorities” have decided to use sanctions against the Crimean Tatar leader, and attempted to impose censorship in connection with reporting on the Mejlis activities.

Russians censor Crimean Tatar TV

Management at the Crimean Tatar television broadcasting company Krym received verbal instructions to avoid “showing” the leader of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev and several members of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (executive-representative body), a source at the company confirmed to Ukrainska Pravda.

According to the source, the new “powers” in Crimea decided to impose sanctions against the leader of the Crimean Tatars and to introduce censorship regarding coverage of the activities of the Mejlis.

Crimean Tatars ask for status as indigenous people

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars and all the Tatars of Crimea ask the Ukrainian government to grant them recognition as a indigenous people, deputy head of Mejlis Nariman Dzhelyal told Radio Svoboda, on March 17.

“We know the Russian government is preparing to annex Crimea. This is why we turn to the Parliament of Ukraine with the request to recognize the status of Crimean Tatars as an indigenous people and to immediately ensure the free self-expression of the Crimean Tatars,” said Dzhelyal. He added that an all-Ukrainian referendum could serve as the means to guarantee the rights of the Crimean Tatars to self-determination.

STATEMENT of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, to all people of Ukraine – Ukrainian citizens of all nationalities

March 15, 2014

                                            To the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

                                            To the people of Ukraine – Ukrainian citizens of all                                                       nationalities

STATEMENT

of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, all people of Ukraine – citizens of Ukraine of all nationalities

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people – the supreme representative body elected by the Crimean Tatar people,

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars urges all that care about Crimea’s fate to boycott referendum

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars urges to boycott the referendum that has been appointed for March, 16. Their appeal is posted on the FB page of the  Qırımtatar Milliy Meclisi:

TO EVERYONE, WHO CARES ABOUT THE FATE OF CRIMEA! WE URGE YOU TO BOYCOTT THIS REFERENDUM!

The referendum on which we, Crimean residents, are being offered to make a choice for the future of our children, the future of our Crimea, the future of the whole country, has been appointed for March, 16.