“Ten years of occupation of Crimea did not break the will of the Crimean Tatar people” – Mejlis

Ten years of Russian occupation of Crimea did not break the will of the Crimean Tatar people and a significant part of the peninsula's multi-ethnic population. 

On the 10th anniversary of the Russian occupation of Crimea, activists of the "Yellow Ribbon" resistance movement brought the Ukrainian flag on one of the peninsula's peaks, Rubryka reports.

"[Crimean people] remain loyal to the Ukrainian state and devoted to their land, resisting the Russian occupation non-violently," said Refat Chubarov, head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People on the occasion of the Day of Resistance to the Russian Occupation of Crimea.

The Mejlis stated that it would continue to take all necessary actions to facilitate the earliest possible liberation of Crimea from Russian occupiers.

The Crimean Tatar governance body noted that the seizure of Crimea in 2014 by Russia was planned as the beginning of establishing control over the entire Ukraine and was prepared for years, from systematic cleansing of the information space and infiltration of Russian agents into state authorities and administration to demonization of the Crimean Tatar people.

Over the ten years of occupation, Russia has turned Crimea into a full-scale military base where mass crimes against the residents of Crimea take place, including murders, forced disappearances, politically motivated persecutions, violations of other fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, and freedom of religion or belief.

The Mejlis also thanked the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who, with their courage and dedication, brought the time of Crimea's liberation closer, and expressed respect and support for the Crimean Tatar people and all residents of the occupied Crimea who remain loyal to the Ukrainian state.

Background

On February 26, Ukraine marks the Day of Resistance to the Russian Occupation of Crimea.

Ukrainian Crimea has been occupied for ten years. Its seizure by Russian troops in February 2014 marked the beginning of Russia's war against Ukraine.

On the 10th anniversary of the Russian occupation of Crimea, activists of the "Yellow Ribbon" movement raised the Ukrainian flag on one of the peninsula's peaks.

"We have raised the flag of Ukraine on the peak of Crimea again. After ten years of Russian occupation, we continue to remind the Russians that Crimea is Ukraine!" the statement said.

Activists are confident that the blue and yellow flag will soon fly over the entire peninsula.

"We know for sure that Crimea will be free from the Russians, and we will resist as much as necessary," the "Yellow Ribbon" said.

On the Day of Unity of Ukraine, activists of the "Yellow Ribbon" movement also unfurled the Ukrainian flag on the peak of Mount Pahkal-Kaya in Crimea.

As Rubryka reported, February 26 was officially recognized as the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol City.