Aug 26, 2014

Crimean Tatars: Latvia Promises Assistance


On the occasion of the conference dedicated to 25th anniversary of the Baltic Way, Crimean Tatar leaders met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia to discuss the current situation in Crimea and Ukraine. During the meeting, the Latvian Foreign Minister expressed support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea, pledging to continue raising awareness of human rights abuses in Crimea within international forums. 

Below is an article published by The Baltic Course

On 22 August [2014], the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs met with the Crimean Tatar leaders Refat Chubarov and Mustafa Dzhemilev. During the meeting, the Crimean Tatar leaders informed the Foreign Minister about the developments in Crimea and Ukraine, reports Latvian MFA.

They expressed particular concern about the deteriorating conditions of the Crimean Tatars: people are being abducted, detained, and threatened on a regular basis, with the aim of suppressing any attempt to resist the annexation of their land.

The Latvian Foreign Minister expressed strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as pledging Latvia's support for continuously sustaining the policy of non-recognition of the annexation of Crimea. It was emphasized that Latvia is actively working so that Ukraine could receive maximum international support. The Minister noted during the conversation that international organisations must be regularly informed and reminded of the conditions of the Crimean Tatars and human rights violations in Crimea. Latvia will use every avenue to keep these issues on the agenda of international organisations.

The Tatar leaders were supportive of Latvia's position on the annexation of Crimea and appreciated the assistance that Latvia is providing to Crimea.

Refat Chubarov is the President of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars and the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People. Mustafa Dzhemilev is a member of the Ukrainian Parliament from the Batjkivshchina Party and the President's Plenipotentiary for Crimean Tatar Affairs. Both Crimean leaders had arrived in Latvia to take part in the conference "25 Years after the Baltic Way and the Collapse of Totalitarian Communism: European Memory and Political Inspiration".