Decision of 6th Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People «On Implementation of Right to Self-Determination by Crimean Tatar People in Their Historical Territory – Crimea»

The Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People appealed to U.N., CoE, EU, OSCE, OIC, to nations, parliaments and governments of states calling them to support the right of the Crimean Tatar people to self-determination in their historical territory – Crimea.

The Decision of the 6^th Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People “On the Implementation of the Right to Self-Determination by the Crimean Tatar People in Their Historical Territory – Crimea”, adopted on March 29, 2014 at the special 2^nd session of the national convention of the Crimean Tatars said.

The majority of the delegates of the Qurultay of the 6^th convocation supported the mentioned decision.

212 delegates vote for it, 1 – against and 4 – abstained.

Full text of the Decision of the 6^th Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People

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“ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RIGHT OF CRIMEAN TATAR PEOPLE TO SELF-DETERMINATION IN THEIR HISTORICAL TERRITORY – CRIMEA”

On March 16, 2014, the “All-Crimean Referendum” took place in Crimea that served a basis to the “Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on Admitting to the Russian Federation the Republic of Crimea and Establishing within the Russian Federation New Constituent Entities” that was signed on March 18, 2014. On March 21 the Federal Constitutional Law “On Admitting to the Russian Federation the Republic of Crimea and Establishing within the Russian Federation the New Constituent Entities of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Federal Importance Sevastopol” and Federal Law “On Ratifying the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea on Admitting to the Russian Federation the Republic of Crimea and Establishing within the Russian Federation New Constituent Entities” was ratified.

Since February 27, 2014, all stages relating to the announcement, preparation and holding of “all-Crimean referendum” was accompanied by a legal bacchanalia when the troops and military equipment were brought to Crimea en mass and checkpoints were built quickly in every entrance and exits in Crimea.

The various paramilitary organizations – “Crimean vigilantes” and “self-defense squads” consisting also of the Cossacks, who arrived from the neighborhood regions of Russia, caused the special tension and anxiety in the Crimean society during this period.

In conditions of a real threat of violence against the Crimean residents, whose positions concerning the status of Crimea differed from the position of those who organized and hold the referendum, and considering that the questions, suggested at the referendum couldn’t be discussed thoroughly in the Crimean society due to lack of time for the preparation and holding of the referendum (only 10 days), the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People called every Crimean Tatar and persons belonging to other nationalities to boycott all stages of preparation and holding of all-Crimean referendum and do not come to the polling stations on the voting day.

The objective analysis of the voting of March 16, 2014 in the polling stations testifies to the fact that the overwhelming majority of the Crimean Tatars did not take part in the referendum, following the suggestion of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People.

Many people belonging to other nationalities did not take part in the vote as well.

THE QURULTAY OF THE CRIMEAN TATAR PEOPLE:

– following from the fact that changing of the status of Crimea was made without the agreement and clearly expressed will of the Crimean Tatar people – indigenous people of Crimea;

– based on the generally accepted norms of the international documents, guaranteeing the right to self-determination – – the UN Charter, Resolution № 1514 (XV) of the UN General Assembly of December 14, 1960, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of December 16, 1966, Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation Between States in accordance with the UN Charter, adopted on October 24, 1970 and etc;

– based on the UN Declaration “On the Rights of the Indigenous Peoples” of September 13, 2007, in particular:

a) right of the indigenous people to self-determination (article 3),

b) right of the indigenous people to the autonomy and self-governance (article 4),

c) right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State (article 5),

d) military activities shall not take place in the territories of indigenous peoples, unless justified by a relevant public interest or otherwise freely agreed (article 30),

e) right to access to and prompt decision through just and fair procedures for the resolution of conflicts and disputes with States or other parties (article 40);

– based on the Declaration on the National Sovereignty of the Crimean Tatar People, adopted by the 2^nd Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People on June 28, 1991;

– confirming the strict intention to strengthening and further development of the relations between the Crimean Tatars and all ethnic communities, living in Crimea on the basis of the mutual respect, recognition of the human rights and civil rights and interests, equal observance of the political, economic, cultural, religious and other legal rights,

DECIDES

1. Announce the beginning of the political and legal procedures to establish (restore) the national-territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people in their historical territory – Crimea

2. Order the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People to contact the international organizations – the UN, CoE, EU, OSCE, OIC, parliaments and governments of states concerning all issues of ensuring the rights of the Crimean Tatar people to the self-determination in the form of the national-territorial autonomy in their historical territory – Crimea.

THE QURULTAY OF THE CRIMEAN TATAR PEOPLE ADDRESSES

the UN, CoE, EU, OSCE, OIC, parliaments and governments of states to support the right of the Crimean Tatar people to self-determination in their historical territory – Crimea.

Adopted at the 2^nd special session of the 6^th Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People

On March 29, 2014

Bakhchisaray, Crimea