On March 20, Permanent Representative Olha Kuryshko held a meeting at the Mission with representatives of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), namely, senior advisors Shannon Simrell and Bakhtiyar Nishanov. Also participating in the event was Mustafa Dzhemilev, Member of Parliament of Ukraine and leader of the Crimean Tatar people.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the current situation in occupied Crimea. Specifically, the Permanent Representative spoke about the occupiers’ crimes, including the so-called nationalization of Ukrainian property, illegal conscription campaigns into the Russian army, control over the information space, the militarization of the educational sphere, and the use of Crimea as a hub for the illegal transfer and deportation of children.

Separately, Olha Kuryshko focused on religious persecution and human rights violations. She noted that as of March of this year, 286 individuals are subject to judicial persecution, 159 of whom are Crimean Tatars. Continuing on this point, the Permanent Representative cited the example of Remzi Nimetullaiev, who was sentenced by the Russians in a fabricated case, and whose wife, Esma, was also detained in 2025. The family is raising five children, and thus the occupiers have effectively deprived them of both parents.

“Today, Muslims around the world are celebrating Oraza-Bayram—the festival marking the end of Ramadan. The Mission has documented cases in which political prisoners were denied meals appropriate for the fast. Last year, religious rights were also systematically violated: prayers, religious rites, and meals at prescribed times were restricted.”

Mustafa Dzhemilev also spoke about the crimes of the Russians in Crimea—the banning of Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian literature, searches, and detentions. According to him, about 60–70% of detentions in fabricated cases on the peninsula involve Crimean Tatars.

To conclude the meeting, the Mission’s team discussed planned events within the framework of the Crimea Platform, including the Parliamentary Summit to be held in London this year and the “Crimea Global” international conference, which annually brings together participants from Africa, Asia, and Latin America.