PACE is concerned over the possible ban of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has expressed serious concern over the possible banning of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars, Krym.Realii reported.
“The Mejlis is an important tool for the representation and the emancipation of the Crimean Tatar people. It is absurd to label the Mejlis as an extremist organization just because they openly oppose Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea,” this was said by PACE co-rapporteurs, Axel Fischer and Jordi Xuclà.
The PACE also believes that the proposed ban is not only a violation of international standards, but also a serious violation of the rights of Crimean Tatars.
“We therefore urge Russian authorities to immediately abandon their plans for the ban,” the PACE added.
Fischer and Xuclà intend to visit Ukraine on the 28th and the 29th of April.
On the 3rd of March, the Russian-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea began its hearing with regard to banning the Mejlis. At the first hearing, prosecutors requested that documents written by Russian investigators be attached to the case records. These documents confirm that the actions of the Mejlis are “illegal and extremist”.
A Crimean advocacy group used a statement detailing the unlawfulness of the ban to appeal to international organizations.
The UN has called on Russia to prevent the proposed ban. The EU has also expressed concern regarding this matter.
The internationally recognized Ukrainian territory of Crimea was annexed by the Russian Federation in March of 2014 in the wake of the Ukrainian revolution. The Kremlin has faced international condemnation for its annexation of the Peninsula, leading many western countries to impose economic sanctions against Russia. In the United Nations, only Afghanistan, North Korea, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, and Syria recognize Crimea as a legitimate federal subject of Russia.