The article below was published by the Kyiv Post:

Since there is no way to hold democratic elections of the new Qurultay (Assembly) of the Crimean Tatar People in Russia-occupied Crimea, the powers of the current, sixth convocation, will be extended for an indefinite period of time until the opportunity arises to hold the elections, leaders of the Crimea Tatar people said.

“This year the five-year term of the powers of the delegates to the Qurultay is coming to an end… Qurultay’s regulations say Qurultay members have to step down as soon as a new Qurultay is elected. Since we have no opportunity to hold a democratic vote and convoke a new Qurultay, then we may consider the powers of the delegations to the current Qurultay to be automatically prolonged,” the former chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People MP Mustafa Dzhemilev said at a conference of the delegates to the Qurultay that took place in Kyiv on Nov. 12.

In his turn, MP Refat Chubarov, the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, told reporters that the delegates to the Qurultay have to announce they are prolonging their powers until an opportunity arises for them to step down.

Chubarov said the conference was attended by 75 out of 248 delegates. He said that part of the delegates could not come from Russia-occupied Crimea because after their trip had been over, their families could have faced “terrible consequences.”

Chubarov said that the Qurultay delegates are expected to make a joint statement to prolong their term in office until the new elections.

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