Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Rejects⁢ Polish Foreign Minister’s Proposal

September 19, 2024, 17:41

Statement from the Presidium of the Mejlis

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people has deemed the statements⁤ of Polish Foreign ​Minister Radoslaw Sikorski regarding the “handover” of ⁢Crimea ‌to the UN mandate for holding a referendum as “unacceptable and cynical.” In a statement, ​the⁣ Presidium emphasized ​that Sikorsky’s words do not satisfy the⁢ national interests of⁣ Ukraine and the indigenous people of the Crimean Tatars.

According to Ukrainian legislation and ‌international law,​ the only “legal residents” of the ⁢peninsula are ⁤citizens of Ukraine and people who have legally received the​ right to reside in ​the territory of our country. ⁣Other methods of ​establishing the legality‌ of residence of ​people on the territory ​of Crimea are inappropriate, adds the Presidium of​ the Mejlis.

The Mejlis is confident that any proposals to resolve ⁤the issue ⁢of ending Russia’s war against Ukraine should ensure peace in Ukraine,⁣ restore its territorial integrity, restore the rights and freedoms of Ukrainian citizens who have been ​violated​ in‌ the territories, and be based on the national legislation ⁤of Ukraine and international law.

Crimea is temporarily occupied, and ​the first step towards peace should be the withdrawal of Russian troops from⁤ the peninsula. In turn, its future ‍should be discussed entirely with the participation and consent of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatars.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski intends to hand over temporarily annexed Crimea under the mandate of ⁤the United Nations to hold a referendum there. He believes the peninsula has important symbolic significance ‍for Russia, including dictator Vladimir Putin, and‌ for Ukraine,⁤ it has important strategic significance.