THE STATEMENT ON RELEASE OF ILMI UMEROV AND AKHTEM CHIYGOZ

26 October 2017

THE STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MEJLIS OF THE CRIMEAN TATAR PEOPLE REFAT CHUBAROV ON RELEASE OF ILMI UMEROV AND AKHTEM CHIYGOZ.

The release of Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz was due to the efforts and assistance of many people and various countries – the deputies of the European Parliament; the PACE; the OSCE PA; other international organizations; Ukrainian diplomats; leading politicians of European countries, the USA, Canada and numerous organizations of the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian Diasporas throughout the world.

I express my sincere gratitude to all international partners and non-indifferent people who are supporting the Crimean Tatars, immediate deoccupation of the Crimea and restoration of Ukraine’s state sovereignty on the peninsula.

On behalf of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people I express special gratitude to the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and to the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, for their efforts to free Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi Umerov. I believe and I hope for the fast release of all political prisoners of the Crimea – Crimean Tatars, ethnic Ukrainians, all those who are persecuted by the Russian occupation authorities.

Refat Chubarov,

Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People