The Permanent Representative took part in an online discussion at the invitation of one of the leading Indonesian “think tanks”

The Permanent Representative joined an online discussion at the invitation of one of the leading Indonesian “think tanks”, which was devoted to the war in Ukraine.

Representatives of Indonesian expert and academic circles participated together with Ms. Tasheva as a speaker.

Ms. Tasheva reminded the participants that the war in Ukraine began with the occupation of Crimea in 2014, and since then, the situation on the occupied peninsula only worsened, and after February 24, 2022, it became critical.

Considering the controversial name of the event, the Permanent Representative emphasized that today the Crimean Tatars are experiencing already the third attempt by Russia to destroy their identity, starting with the annexation of the peninsula by the Russian Empire in 1783.

“In the light of this context, the international armed conflict currently taking place in Ukraine, which we and the democratic world define as Russian aggression against Ukraine, is truly endless – because it has been going on for centuries. Now Russia is trying to colonize not only Crimea, but also the whole of Ukraine and does not even conceal this intention. Russia is trying to wipe out Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians, destroy our culture, rewrite our history and transform not only Crimea, but also Ukraine into a military base for further war against other countries. Russia considers Ukraine, in particular Crimea, only as a missing piece of the empire”.

Ms. Tasheva noted that Ukraine needs not only military aid, but also international support to win this war. She thanked Indonesia for its humanitarian aid and for the support of our state during the vote for the UN Resolution on February 23, 2023, in which the member countries in fact supported the “peace formula” proposed by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and called on Russia to withdraw its troops from the internationally recognized in 1991, the borders of Ukraine.

 


The opening of the photo exhibition “Stories from occupied Crimea” took place in Dnipro

The photo exhibition “Stories from Occupied Crimea” created by “ZMINA. Human Rights Centre” was opened in Dnipro in cooperation with the Mission of the President in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

22 photos of Ukrainian reporters Alina Smutko, Taras Ibragimov and Alyona Savchuk are a unique chronicle of life on the peninsula illegally occupied by Russia and documentary evidence of repressions against Ukrainians and representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.

On the occasion of the opening of the photo exhibition, a press conference was held, the participants of which were: head of the Information provided Department of the Mission of the President in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Yevhen Bondarenko, spokeswoman of the “ZMINA. Human Rights Centre” Iryna Ivanchenko, one of the authors of the photos, reporter Alyona Savchuk, wife of political prisoner Vladyslav Yesypenko, analyst of the Crimean Human Rights Group Kateryna Yesypenko, head of the Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners of the Cremlin Ihor Kotelyanets and father of political prisoner Valentin Vyhivskyi Petro Vyhivskyi.

Speakers talked about Russia’s repression of Ukrainians and representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people, illegal sentences and falsified cases against Ukrainian citizens, as well as political prisoners, there are already 181 of them, 116 of whom – Crimean Tatars.

During the opening of the exhibition, the spokeswoman of the “ZMINA. Human Rights Centre”, Iryna Ivanchenko, told the audience that almost everyone among the political prisoners was illegally convicted for journalistic activities.

“Most of them are Crimean Tatar citizen journalists, who cooperated with the “Crimean Solidarity” initiative, which unites families of political prisoners, lawyers, and activists. These are Seyran Saliev, Marlen Asanov, Timur Ibrahimov, Server Mustafayev, Osman Arifmemetov, Remzi Bekirov, Ruslan Suleymanov, Rustem Sheikhaliyev. Over the past year, the occupying authorities imprisoned three more citizen journalists — Iryna Danylovych, Vilen Temeryanov and Ernes Ametov. Therefore, we can say that every tenth Crimean political prisoner is imprisoned because of his journalistic activitie”.

One of the photo exhibition authors, Alyona Savchuk, that during 2016-2018 reported on the trials of Ukrainian political prisoners in the occupied Crimea, until she was banned by the FSS from entering the peninsula and the territory of Russia, told more about its creation.

“These pictures are a small percentage of all the stories from the occupation that we were lucky enough to observe, hear and broadcast. About people who stayed at home, despite intimidation and threats, arrests and trials, torture and humiliation by (pro) Russian security forces. These are stories about the destroyed destinies of hundreds of families, made-up terrorism, persecution for nationality, faith and position. But they are also about love for one’s land and people, solidarity and mutual support, faith in the victory of truth and goodness”.

Yevhen Bondarenko spoke at a press conference about the involvement of the Mission of the President Office after the start of the full-scale invasion.

“Since February 24, 2022, it was important to keep the issue of occupied Crimea in the national and international media spaces, and later to convey important and truthful information about the situation on the peninsula to our citizens living under occupation. As a team of the Mission, we regularly monitor the situation on the Ukrainian peninsula, prepare operative weekly summaries, which we distribute on our own resources and in the media. Via them, we reveal the issues of persecution of our citizens, militarization of the peninsula, criminal mobilization, propaganda and incitement of enmity by the occupying administrations, transformation of key narratives, public attitudes and movements of resistance to the occupation”.

On March 17, the photo exhibition “Stories from the Occupied Crimea” opened in Dnipro, on the premises of the “MOST-City” Shopping Center. The exposition was located on the first floor, where during the week it can be seen by residents and guests of the city. The press conference on the occasion of the opening took place in one of the halls of the “MOST-Kino” cinema.

Dnipro became the fourth city where the photo exhibition “Stories from Occupied Crimea” was presented. Previously, it was held in Khmelnytskyi, Kropyvnytskyi, Chernivtsi, and it will also be shown in Lutsk and Lviv.


The Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva met the American historian, writer, journalist, laureate of many international literary prizes, Anne Applebaum

The Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva met with the American historian, writer, journalist, laureate of many international literary prizes, Anne Applebaum.

Mrs. Applebaum has been researching the history of Ukraine for a long time and is an expert on the development of civil society in Eastern Europe, as well as the author of a number of books on historical processes in Eastern Europe. In particular, she received the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in the category of popular science books for her work “Gulag: A History”. In addition, Ann Applebaum is the author of a book about the Holodomor in Ukraine called “Red Famine. Stalin’s war on Ukraine”.

This time Anne Applebaum arrived in Ukraine, in particular, as part of the preparation of material about Crimea.

During the meeting, the Permanent Representative spoke about the development of a “road map” for Ukraine’s first steps after the de-occupation of Crimea, namely: aspects of the future humanitarian policy on the peninsula, the issue of lustration and amnesty, the development of a personnel policy and other areas of work.

“Ukrainian state wants to be ready for the de-occupation of Crimea, so it is already working on all these strategies, which should form the basis of specific laws and resolutions”, Tamila Tashevanoted. – “We understand that the process of reintegration will be difficult, so we take our task seriously”.

During the discussion, Mrs. Applebaum also noted the growing interest in Ukraine in world academic circles. The participants of the meeting discussed the mechanisms that can help to intensify these processes.

“For a long time, people did not identify the states of Eastern Europe, including Ukraine, which gained independence in 1991, as something separate and sovereign, even despite their long history. It was said that Siberia starts from the “Charlie” checkpoint in Berlin and stretches to Vladivostok. However, now these countries are increasingly perceived as sovereign and powerful states that have their own subjectivity and are attractive as a separate element of study”, the researcher is convinced.

The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Denis Chistikov, and the Head of the Crimea Platform Department at the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Maria Tomak.

 



The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Office discussed the development of the state’s priority steps after the de-occupation of Crimea with representatives of the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine and the autonomous Prosecutor’s Office

In the Mission of the President Office, a presentation of the work of the working group “De-occupied Crimea: the first steps of the state” was held for representatives of the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, as well as the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. It was important for us to hear their opinions about the groundwork and to consult on the coverage and communication of the developed proposals of the action plan for the Ukrainian state after the de-occupation of the Crimean Peninsula.

During the meeting, the Mission of the President office team presented and discussed the following areas of work in the de-occupied territory of Crimea: restoration of public administration and personnel support, amnesty and lustration, prosecution for international crimes and crimes of national security as a result of occupation, issues of property rights, verification of documents and decisions of occupying courts, citizenship of the Russian Federation in the territory of the de-occupied Crimea, as well as humanitarian policy and demilitarization of the educational and cultural spheres.

The participants of the meeting noted the thoroughness of the work done and a significant number of issues that need to be further worked out. Special attention was drawn to the issue of forming a personnel reserve for the de-occupied Crimea because just to ensure the activities of the pre-trial investigation bodies, the Prosecutor’s Office and the courts, more than ten thousand people are needed, whom the state should look for and prepare for work right now.

Separately, we also discussed the fact that to ensure the restoration of the legal system, it is important to determine the mechanisms for launching the work of the courts.

We are deeply grateful to our colleagues who joined this important discussion! We continue to work for the fastest possible de-occupation and safe, effective reintegration of Ukrainian Crimea.

Together we win!


The Deputy Permanent Representative of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea took part in the public discussion “Crimea 2014 vs Crimea 2023: Retrospective and Looking to the Future”

The Deputy Permanent Representative Denis Chistikov took part in a public discussion organized by the “Ukraine Crisis Media Center” on the topic “Crimea 2014 vs Crimea 2023: Retrospective and Looking to the Future”.

Together, the panelists discussed the issue of the world’s insufficient reaction to the events of the year 2014 and the occupation of Crimea, the violation of the rights of Ukrainians and representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people by Russia, as well as Ukraine’s prospects for the de-occupation and reintegration of the peninsula.

“Unfortunately, the world did not draw conclusions from the aggressive actions of the Russian Federation on the territory of Georgia in year 2008 and did not react sufficiently to the continuation of this aggression, but already on the territory of Ukraine. Regretfully, we began to receive significant international support only after the start of the full-scale invasion, when it became clear that Russia threatens not only the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state, but also the security of the whole world”, said Denys Chistikov.

The Deputy Permanent Representative also noted that the terrorist country applies most of its repressions against the Crimean Tatar people on the occupied peninsula: criminal mobilization aimed at Crimeans, illegal sentences based on religion, destruction of the cultural heritage of the indigenous people, mass illegal detentions, and torture in pre-trial detention centers.

Mr. Chistikov once again reminded the words of the President of Ukraine that Ukraine will liberate Crimea in the way it decides, although even before the start of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian state considered only the diplomatic way. Volodymyr Zelenskyi’s position is also supported by international partners, who continue to provide Ukraine with the necessary assistance to liberate its territory.

Together with Mr. Chistikov, the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, and a Ukrainian historian, representative of the Regional Council of Ukrainians of Crimea, took part in the discussion. The scientific secretary of the Ukrainian Committee of Slavists and writer Ihor Stambol moderated the discussion.



The occupiers illegally sentenced political prisoner Ametkhan Abdulvapov to 10.5 years in prison

The Russian Southern District Military Court in the Rostov-on-Don handed down an illegal sentence to political prisoner Amethan Abdulvapov – 10.5 years of imprisonment, 3 years of which the man must spend in prison. Abdulvapov was convicted in the falsified “Crimean Muslims” case.

In addition, the Russian prosecutor asked for 1 year of restrictions for the political prisoner after the expiration of the term of his illegal detention: a ban on leaving the house at night, attending and participating in mass events, leaving Crimea without permission or changing his place of residence.

“The defense fully does not agree with this verdict. We consider it illegal and unfounded; we intend to challenge it legally in the appeals court”, lawyer Refat Yunus commented on the verdict.

“I have no connection with terrorism. Release me from the courtroom to my family, to my children”, said Amethan Abdulvapov during his last words in the court.

Earlier, on February 9, 2022, occupying security forces conducted searches in the houses of Crimean Tatars simultaneously in several districts of the occupied Crimea. Four people were detained, including: Ansar Osmanov, Marlen Mustafayev, Ernest Seitosmanov and Amethan Abdulvapov. On the same day, all four were remanded in custody in the Simferopol pre-trial detention center. Amethan Abdulvapov was charged with alleged “participation in a terrorist organization”.

We draw the attention of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine to another violation of the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Ukraine. We call on the international community to decisively react to these criminal actions of the Russian Federation and increase pressure on the aggressor country.

Politically motivated persecution, repression and illegal sentences in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea must stop immediately, which is impossible without the de-occupation of the peninsula.

 


Occupying forces illegally searched the house and detained Crimean Tatar activist and journalist Rolan Osmanov

Occupying security forces illegally searched the house and detained Crimean Tatar activist and journalist Rolan Osmanov. The man was taken to the FSS headquarters in occupied Simferopol.

The search was conducted by FSS officers in connection with a report of “damage” to the railway in the Bakhchysaray district on February 23, 2023.

Lawyer Edem Semedlyaev tried to enter the FSS building to the illegally detained person, but he was not allowed.

“I concluded a deal, I came to represent his interests. He announced his intention to meet with the client at the entrance. FSS legal adviser Ruslan Alekseychuk came to see me. Went away for 15 minutes, and then came out again and said that Roland does not need legal help now. According to him, no procedural actions are being taken against him”, said lawyer Edem Semedlyaev.

Earlier, in 2019, “operational search measures” were already held for him. The occupying forces then said that they were allegedly looking for drugs but found nothing.

Rolan Osmanov was a participant of pickets near the Khan’s Palace, he protested against its destruction under the guise of restoration. The activist regularly attends illegal court hearings in the cases of political prisoners in the occupied Crimea.

The Representative Office condemns the illegal actions of the Russian Federation and the occupying administrations controlled by it. Only the liberation of the Crimean Peninsula will put an end to the crimes of the occupation and ensure respect for human rights and freedoms.