On this day ten years ago, Russia banned the activities of the Mejlis, the representative body of the Crimean Tatars, which since 1991 has shaped and voiced the collective position of the people, defending their rights and interests both in Ukraine and internationally.

In essence, the Mejlis is the key instrument of the Crimean Tatars’ voice — which is exactly why it became a target for the Russian occupation “administration”.

In April 2016, a Russia-controlled “court” in Crimea granted the request of the so-called prosecutor’s office to ban the Mejlis, declaring it an “extremist organisation”.

The international community, including the UN, the European Union, and leading human rights organisations, recognised this decision as a gross violation of the rights of the Indigenous people and further evidence of systemic discrimination.

This ban has a clear goal: to silence the Crimean Tatars and deprive them of the right to speak on their own behalf.

Despite this, the Mejlis continues its activities in Ukrainian-controlled territory. It continues to represent the interests of the Crimean Tatar people in the international arena, draws attention to human rights violations, and consistently advocates for the de-occupation of Crimea.

Importantly, in April of this year, Ukraine took a step towards strengthening this voice. The Cabinet of Ministers officially recognised the Mejlis as the representative body of the Crimean Tatar people, securing its legal status and enhancing its capacity to protect the rights of the Indigenous people of Ukraine.

Ten years of the Russian ban on the Mejlis in Crimea have failed to silence the Crimean Tatar people. Despite pressure and repression, their voice is growing ever louder — and continues to unite people in the struggle for rights, dignity, and freedom.