Ukrainian President proposes establishing Crimean Tatar autonomy in Crimea
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko expressed his readiness to introduce to the Verkhovna Rada a draft amendment to the Ukrainian constitution granting the Crimean Tatars autonomy. He stated at a press conference in Kyiv that he has already asked to convene the Constitutional Commission to fast-track adoption by Parliament.
"I am ready to introduce the issue of changing the Constitution regarding Crimean Tatar autonomy. I asked to convene the Constitutional Commission, to give the compromise variant that would have a chance for adoption. This is not done for PR. We should have 300 votes for this,” Poroshenko said.
According to the President, there is no information on which way the votes will swing. Consultations are ongoing.
In September 2016, the Verkhovna Rada approved recommendations to the President that the “Crimean Tatar Republic” be included in the Ukrainian Constitution instead of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The Constitutional Commission created a working group on the status of the Crimea in May 2017.
In a year and a half, the working group created proposals regarding Section Х of the Ukrainian Constitution. The proposals should enshrine an inalienable right of the Crimean Tatar people as indigenous people of Ukraine for self-determination as part of the independent Ukrainian State.