Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva delivered a video message at the panel discussion on the rights of Indigenous Peoples at the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. The panel discussion focused on laws, judicial decisions, and other measures taken by states under Article 38 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to achieve the goals of the Declaration.

The event also featured speeches by representatives of Indigenous peoples, NGOs, and government agencies from Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Argentina, Canada, Ghana, and others.

Tamila Tasheva described the current situation of the Indigenous peoples of Ukraine—Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks—in the context of the ongoing Russian occupation of the Crimean Peninsula since 2014 and Russia’s armed aggression against Ukraine. The Permanent Representative informed about the Law of Ukraine on Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine adopted in 2021 (which is also based on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) and the activities of the National Commission on the Crimean Tatar Language. Ms. Tasheva also spoke about the recent opening of the Memorial to the Victims of the Crimean Tatar Genocide in Kyiv and about the Crimean political prisoners illegally imprisoned by Russia, most of whom are Crimean Tatars today.

“As long as Crimea is not under the control of Ukraine, Russia will continue to commit crimes against Indigenous peoples. We need international support for the liberation of Crimea, because only in a free Crimea as part of Ukraine can human rights be ensured for all its residents,” Tamila Tasheva emphasized.