Statement of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People as Regard to Announcement of «Crimean Referendum» by Verkhovna Rada of Autonomous Republic of Crimea

06 March 2014

Statement of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People as Regard to Announcement of “Crimean Referendum” by Verkhovna Rada of Autonomous Republic of Crimea

In conditions of the severest political crisis caused by bringing Russian troops into Crimea the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea called the urgent special session without informing the deputies of the opposition about the place and time of the session to adopt the decision “On holding Crimean referendum.”

The Crimean referendum will be held on March 16, 2014.

The analysis of this decision testifies not only to its legal nihility, but also to the crying disregard of the rights and interests of Crimean residents. Thus, item 1 in fact proclaims “inclusion of Crimea to the Russian Federation as a subordinate entity of the Russian Federation,” however, at this the next item announces that the referendum will be held on March 16, 2014.

Making these irresponsible actions part of the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea not only violated the law of Ukraine, but demonstrated their cynical attitude to the multinational population of Crimea.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People considers the adoption of this decision by the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea not only as criminal and contradicting the interests of the overwhelming majority of the multinational population of Crimea, but also as deliberately provocative action, aimed at a further escalation of the tension in Crimea and around it.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People states that along with the gross disregard to the rights and interests of multinational Crimean population, that is called to take part in the illegal referendum that has its result announced in advance, the rights of the Crimean Tatar people that has no other historical homeland outside Crimea, were especially violated.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People calls all residents of the autonomy to boycott every stage of preparation to the referendum:

–          do not enter the district and territorial election committees;

–          do not take part in making a list of voters, do not agree to enter the list of voters;

–          demand one’s exclusion from such lists in case of inclusion into the lists of voters;

–          do not come to the polling stations on voting day, do not invite the members of the election committees to vote at home.

At the same time the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People calls the Crimean residents belonging to various nationalities to stay calm and avoid any attempts to provocations.

Peace and consent in our multinational Crimean society is our most efficient influence to those who brought chaos and fear for the future of our children, relatives and friends to our home.

Peaceful future of Crimea is in our hands!

Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People         Refat Chubarov

March 6, 2014

Simferopol