The Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva spoke at the 16th National Selection Conference “Magura” of the European Youth Parliament. Her speech was dedicated to the protection of indigenous peoples and how the EU can ensure the protection of indigenous peoples in Ukraine.

The full-scale invasion of Russia has not changed its repressive practices against the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, especially the Crimean Tatar people: enforced disappearances, illegal detentions, politically motivated criminal prosecutions are common tools of interaction with indigenous peoples in Crimea for the Russian aggressor.

Tamila Tasheva noted that indigenous peoples in the occupied Crimea are effectively deprived of their national and cultural rights, even the right to study and speak their own language, and religious structures are also controlled by Russian security forces.

“Currently, we know about 180 Ukrainian citizens from the occupied Crimea who have been subjected to political persecution by Russia. 117 of them are Crimean Tatars. These are very different people. From the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Nariman Dzhelal to activists, journalists and people whose daily activities were not related to activism. They are simply Crimean Tatars,” the Permanent Representative emphasized.

She added that Ukraine systematically supports the Crimean Tatars, Karaites and Krymchaks: in 2021, the Law on Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine was adopted, media, education and culture in indigenous languages are encouraged and supported, and the Strategy for the Development of the Crimean Tatar Language until 2032 was developed and approved. The Government of Ukraine has also established the National Commission for the Crimean Tatar Language, co-chaired by Tamila Tasheva.

“The Crimean Tatars, Karaites and Krymchaks are part of the Ukrainian people, as stated in the Constitution. And the Ukrainian people now need one thing – more weapons, more resources, more support. The Crimean Tatars are fighting in the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces because they want to return to their homeland, Crimea. And now this can only be done militarily. The only effective way to protect the rights of indigenous peoples in Crimea is to de-occupy Crimea,” the Permanent Representative emphasized.