The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people calls on the international community to intensify political, diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia in connection with the holding of a so-called nationwide referendum on amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and Sevastopol.
“These actions are another crime that Russia commits in violation of the basic principles and generally recognized norms of international law, as well as its international obligations to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of other states”,- the statement of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, published by the Head of the Mejlis Refat Chubarov, claimed.
The representative body of the Crimean Tatars noted that the so-called all-Russian referendum in Crimea and Sevastopol falls within the qualification of an international crime, the responsibility for the commission of which lies entirely on the occupying state – Russia.
“The Russian invaders, realizing the inevitability of punishment for crimes committed by the occupying state in the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, are forcing residents of Crimea to participate in the illegal so-called all-Russian referendum, which is held from June 25 to July 1, 2020”,- the statement of the Mejlis underlined.
It is noted that special pressure and moral terror from the Russian occupation authorities are experienced by the leaders and employees of educational institutions, health care, workers of communal enterprises, representatives of small and medium-sized businesses. The statement said that among the forms of pressure there are blackmail, threats, dismissal from work, bribery.
The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people calls on the United Nations, the European Union, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, parliaments and governments to strengthen international political, diplomatic and economic pressure to restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within the internationally recognized borders, including the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.
The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people calls on the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to urgently take measures aimed at further consolidating the international community in repelling Russian aggression and restoring the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state.