<p>Меджліс намагається залучити Туреччину для повернення кримських політв'язнів - Чубаров</p>
Kyiv • UNN
The Mejlis is trying to involve countries that maintain relations with Russia, particularly Turkey, in the return of Crimean political prisoners, including Crimean Tatars.
The Mejlis is trying to involve countries that to some extent maintain relations with Russia, including Turkey, in the return of Crimean political prisoners, in particular representatives of the Crimean Tatar people. However, there are no results yet. This was reported to a journalist of UNN by the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov.
Chubarov commented on the possibility of Turkey acting as an intermediary for the return of Crimean Tatars.
We involve Turkey. Every time we have meetings with high-ranking Turkish officials
He noted that last week he, together with the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev, participated in the work of the 51st session of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which took place in Istanbul.
"We had a separate meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, Hakan Fidan. The issue of the release of political prisoners is one of the most important issues that we discuss with our foreign partners. We are trying to involve countries that to some extent maintain relations with Moscow, including Turkey, but there are no results yet," Chubarov said.
When asked how difficult it is to return imprisoned representatives of the Crimean Tatar people, Chubarov replied: "We, as the Mejlis, participate indirectly in these negotiations. We pass on the lists, clarify them. First of all, these are political prisoners, that is, residents of Crimea who are deprived of their liberty on politically motivated, illegal charges."
Chubarov noted that during the recent exchanges of prisoners with the Russian Federation, there were no political prisoners.
In all the recent releases and exchanges, there were no political prisoners. The last ones were when Nariman Dzhelal was released and then later Leniye Umerova. And there in (occupied Crimea - ed.) more than 230 political prisoners are imprisoned
The head of the Mejlis also spoke about the release of which categories of people Russia rejects.
"As we understand it, I can refer here to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that in almost any opportunity, when the Ukrainian side tries to discuss the issue of the release of Ukrainian citizens, political prisoners, the Russians reject it. There are three categories that they almost do not allow to be discussed - these are soldiers of the "Azov" units, Crimean Tatars and journalists. Therefore, it is very difficult here," Chubarov said.
Let's add
Today, June 26, on the occasion of the Day of the Crimean Tatar Flag, a solemn ceremony of raising the Crimean Tatar flag took place in front of the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with the participation of the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and the leadership of the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
During the event, the head of the Mejlis, Refat Chubarov, emphasized that the Crimean Tatar flag is a symbol and sign of the indivisibility of Crimea with the Ukrainian state.
"The Crimean Tatar people and Ukrainian society have no doubt that Crimea will be liberated thanks to the courage of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, in whose ranks Crimean Tatars are fighting with dignity. In the liberated Crimea, the Crimean Tatar flag will fly next to the national flag of Ukraine, as a symbol of the Crimean Tatar national autonomy within an independent, sovereign Ukrainian state," Chubarov said.
Addition
According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, during the entire period of occupation, the number of political prisoners and those prosecuted in criminal cases reached 412 in occupied Crimea, 244 of whom are representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.