Turkey urges end to Crimean Tatars' rights violations

GENEVA

Turkey's ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Naci Koru, on Tuesday called for an end to the human rights violations of Crimean Tatars.

Speaking at the 37th session of the UN’s Human Rights Council, Koru said: “We closely follow the developments in the peninsula with a particular emphasis on the security and well-being of the Crimean Tatars.

“We stand by the Crimean Tatars in their peaceful struggle for safety and freedom of expression in their ancestral homeland. Unfortunately, serious human rights violations have been reported after the annexation. This needs to be urgently addressed.”

Koru said Akhtem Chyigoz and Ulmi Umerov -- two Crimean Tatar leaders who were released last October -- were among the participants at the session; he termed their release as “a positive step in the right direction”.

Umerov, deputy chairman of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis -- a representative body -- and Deputy Mejlis Chair Chyigoz were jailed last year after being convicted by a Russian court in Crimea on the charge of "separatism".

Umerov was sentenced to two years in prison, while Chyigoz got eight years.

“We will continue to be in close solidarity with Crimean Tatars, supporting their peaceful efforts to claim their rights. We want to ensure the protection of the rights and interests of all vulnerable groups in Crimea,” Koru added.

He added: “Turkey on her part will remain in close contact with all parties involved and provide its contribution, whenever and wherever possible.”

Ukraine has been wracked by conflict since March 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea after an illegal independence vote.

The UN General Assembly has voted to proclaim the Russian annexation illegal.

Along with many UN countries, the U.S., the EU and Turkey also do not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Since the annexation of Crimea, the region’s Tatar minority has complained of repression, including arbitrary arrests and detentions.