Meeting of Akhtem Chiygoz with government officials of the Federal Republic of Germany and public representatives

30 May 2018

In Berlin on May 28, Akhtem Chiygoz had a meeting with government officials of the Federal Republic of Germany and public representatives. The event, organized by the The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS; Konrad Adenauer Foundation), was also attended by the Program Director of the Crimean House – Alim Aliyev, and by the Director of the Crimean Institute for Strategic Studies – Arsen Zhumadilov.

Akhtem Chiygoz, in his speech, payed special attention to the crimes of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea and the region itself. Repressions against the Crimean Tatar activists, the construction of the Crimean Bridge, illegal actions of Russian warships in the area of Azov Sea near the Ukrainian seaports – all these, should push the world community, European countries, and in particular, Germany, to take the actions aimd at de-occupation of the peninsula. Such actions, according to the words of the Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, should be preceded by the creation of an international platform for de-occupation of Crimea. Akhtem Chiygoz emphasized  persistence of necessity of decisive actions on de-occupation, since the Russian Federation massively colonizes Crimea by the population that has nothing common with this land, but after a some period of time they will call itself indigenous. Political prisoners of the Kremlin, the number of which is constantly growing up, are awaiting for their own releases and liberation of Crimea. 

Noting, that changing of a demographic composition of the population on the occupied territory is a violation of the international humanitarian law and is a military offence, Alim Aliyev told the audience about other human rights violations in Crimea: the attempt of the occupation authorities to erase Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian identities on the peninsula, as well as the militarization of education in institutions of Crimea. At the same time, Alim Aliyev mentioned that despite the pressure of the Russian occupation administration, the Crimean Tatars are trying to develop civil institutions aimed at consolidation and non-violent resistance of human rights violation.

Arsen Zhumadilov focused attention on wrong opinion of “understanding” Putin that is spread out in some circles of German society. Historically, Crimea was the melting pot of many tribes and peoples, who eventually integrated into the same language, cultural and religious community which further established their state – the Crimean Khanate. Arsen Zhumadilov noted, that despite the appearance and active colonization of the peninsula by Russians in the 19th century, they became the relative majority of Crimea only after the establishment of the Soviet power and the starting of the Red Terror against the Crimean Tatars less than 100 years ago. At the same time, as the absolute majority of the peninsula the Russians became less than 75 years ago after the mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars. At the end, there was informed about the progress made on changes in the Constitution regarding the status of Crimea and Crimean Tatar people.

The meeting was moderated by the Head of the KAS Office in Ukraine – Ms. Gabriele Baumann.