On August 9, the whole world celebrates the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This date was set by the United Nations in response to indigenous peoples being victims of historical injustices as a result of their colonization and deprivation of their lands, territories and resources, which hindered their exercise of the right to development in accordance with their needs and interests. The whole world community and each State individually must care for indigenous peoples in order to preserve and strengthen their institutions, culture and traditions, and to promote their development in accordance with the aspirations and needs of indigenous peoples themselves.
After the beginning of temporarily occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol by the Russian Federation, the Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine, particularly Crimean Tatars, Karaites and Krymchaks which ethnically formed on the Crimean Peninsula became a subject of harassment and persecution for their principal support of the idea of territorial integrity and Sovereignty of Ukraine.
That is why, the issue of protection of indigenous peoples who are persecuted by the occupying state is a serious challenge for Ukraine and at the same time a matter of consistency in defending territorial integrity and sovereignty.
As the Office of the President of Ukraine noted in this context: “On February 26, 2020, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed for that a number of documents, including the Decree” On the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol ” which commemorates courage and heroism of the citizens, residing in the temporarily occupied peninsula in defending the territorial integrity of Ukraine. And on 26 February this year the Decree was signed “On some measures aimed at deoccupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which among other tasks entrusted the Government to develop and approve the Crimean Tatar Language Strategy for 2022-2032, including priority tasks, particularly, approval of the alphabet based on Latin graphics.
In addition, in July 2021, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine approved the Law, submitted by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, “On Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine” which regulates the protection of the rights and interests of Indigenous Peoples.
It is clear and consistent policy aimed at support of Indigenous Crimean Tatar People and other indigenous peoples of Ukraine, which we temporarily unable to provide on their historic motherland – the Crimean peninsula.
We will do our possible for deoccupation and reintegration of the temporarily occupied Crimea. This goal unites, it is stable and achievable, it has its own strategy and, most importantly, the people who will go to it under any circumstances and fight for it.