Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva took part in a discussion on the reintegration of Crimea and the rights of indigenous peoples during the presentation of a documentary educational film created by the Suspilne team. The film is a part of a large-scale project of the Coordination Centre for Broadcasting of National Minorities “My Crimea”, which aims at telling the society about the story of the victory of those who, despite the system, despite their low numbers and oppression for centuries, managed to preserve their culture in their own families thanks to their unity.

In addition to the Permanent Representative, speakers included Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis, Eskender Bariev, Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre, and Taras Shevchenko, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy.

After watching the documentary film, which illustrates the facts of multiculturalism stolen by the Russians over the years as a part of Ukrainian identity, the speakers joined the discussion of models of informing Ukrainian society about deeper knowledge and understanding of indigenous peoples. 

The Permanent Representative spoke about the steps taken by the state to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and accelerate the process of de-occupation of Crimea.  

“The state fully supports indigenous peoples. In particular, today there is a Strategy for the Development of the Crimean Tatar Language, which aims to restore the integrity of the educational, information and communication space of the Crimean Tatar language and promote the development of the linguistic identity of indigenous peoples.  There are many local initiatives, cooperation with local authorities and the public sector. The President of Ukraine constantly talks about indigenous peoples and how the state’s actions are aimed at supporting indigenous peoples, in particular the Crimean Tatars, who are the largest indigenous people and who are currently most oppressed in the occupied peninsula,” Tamila Tasheva said. 

The Permanent Representative also emphasized that the very presence of indigenous peoples in Crimea – Karaites, Krymchaks and Crimean Tatars – proves that Crimea is “not Russian”. It is the homeland of these three indigenous peoples and only with Ukraine can they preserve their culture, identity, language and legal rights. 

The online premiere of the film will take place today, on 9 August, at 21.00 on YouTube at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4Vc3Lro4fw 

We are grateful to the organizers of the event for inviting us and implementing such an important project.

Crimea is Ukraine!