The Deputy Permanent Representative Denis Chistikov took part in a public discussion organized by the “Ukraine Crisis Media Center” on the topic “Crimea 2014 vs Crimea 2023: Retrospective and Looking to the Future”.

Together, the panelists discussed the issue of the world’s insufficient reaction to the events of the year 2014 and the occupation of Crimea, the violation of the rights of Ukrainians and representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people by Russia, as well as Ukraine’s prospects for the de-occupation and reintegration of the peninsula.

“Unfortunately, the world did not draw conclusions from the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation on the territory of Georgia in year 2008 and did not react sufficiently to the continuation of this aggression, but already on the territory of Ukraine. Regretfully, we began to receive significant international support only after the start of the full-scale invasion, when it became clear that Russia threatens not only the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state, but also the security of the whole world”, said Denys Chistikov.

The Deputy Permanent Representative also noted that the terrorist country applies most of its repressions against the Crimean Tatar people on the occupied peninsula: criminal mobilization aimed at Crimeans, illegal sentences based on religion, destruction of the cultural heritage of the indigenous people, mass illegal detentions, and torture in pre-trial detention centers.

Mr. Chistikov once again reminded the words of the President of Ukraine that Ukraine will liberate Crimea in the way it decides, although even before the start of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian state considered only the diplomatic way. Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s position is also supported by international partners, who continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary assistance to liberate its territory.

Together with Mr. Chistikov, the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, and a Ukrainian historian, representative of the Regional Council of Ukrainians of Crimea, took part in the discussion. The scientific secretary of the Ukrainian Committee of Slavists and writer Ihor Stambol moderated the discussion.