This day reminds everyone that they have the right to speak their native language everywhere and in their country, including the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

From the first days of the temporary occupation, the Russian occupation administration violated the right of our citizens to use their native language, including Ukrainian and the Crimean Tatar language.

The occupying so-called “authorities” of Crimea have in fact banned the use of Ukrainian, destroyed Ukrainian media sources, schools and other educational institutions. The situation is the same with the Crimean Tatar language: there are no real opportunities for the use of the language and its development on the Crimean peninsula.

We are sure that the day will come when the Ukrainian flag will fly over Crimea again and it will be possible to speak, listen and watch in Ukrainian, the Crimean Tatar and other languages ​​again, without any prohibitions and threats to life! Happy International Mother Language Day!

Picture: poem by Serhiy Zhadan, translated by Maya Safet for the second writing and translation contest “Crimean Figs”.