Dear friends, the deoccupation of Crimea is just around the corner, and the peninsula may return to Ukraine at any moment. Therefore, it is very important to think about a perfect model of Crimea’s future so that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.
The Future of Crimea is determined not only by its geopolitical position, but also by the importance of its development for the whole country and the international community. Indeed, Crimea has great potential in various aspects related to economy, culture, tourism and natural resources.
An economically active and stable Crimea can become a catalyst for the development of the whole of Ukraine. The balanced use of its resources will help create new jobs and attract investment.
Moreover, preserving Crimea’s cultural heritage is important for the diversity of cultures in Ukraine. The region’s tourism potential can attract travelers and facilitate the exchange of cultural values.
In addition, a sustainable solution to the Crimean issue is key to stability and security in the region, helping to build trust between the countries and ensure peaceful coexistence.
So, how does the team of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center see the Future of Crimea?
The model of the Future of Crimea consists of the following components:
I. Ukrainization of Crimea;
II. Guaranteed protection of human rights in Crimea;
III. Realization of collective rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine;
IV. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea is a national-territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people;
V. Crimea is an economically developed and touristically attractive region of Ukraine.
І. Ukrainization of Crimea is:
1. Decolonization, deimperialization and decommunization of the territory and narratives in
Crimea;
2. Formation and promotion of truthful historiography about Crimea and indigenous peoples;
3. Restoration of the rule of law in Crimea;
4. Protection and realization of the rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine;
5. Protection of the rights of national minorities in Crimea;
6.Introduction of Ukrainian as the state language of Ukraine as a mandatory language in all
spheres of life;
7. Preservation and development of the languages of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, preservation
of the languages of national minorities;
8. Restoration of historical justice and protection of cultural heritage of Ukraine;
9. Preservation of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of Ukraine;
10. European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
II. Guaranteed protection of human rights in Crimea
1.Right to life, liberty and security of person;
2.Respect for human dignity. No one may be subjected to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
3.Freedom of movement, free choice of place of residence, the right to freely leave the territory of Ukraine;
4.Freedom of thought and speech, the right to freely express one’s views and beliefs;
5.Freedom of worldview and religion;
6.Freedom of peaceful assembly and association;
7. Protection of property. The right to own, use and dispose of one’s property, the results of one’s intellectual and creative activity;
8.Right to work, which includes the opportunity to earn a living by work which one freely chooses or accepts. The right to entrepreneurial activity;
9.Social protection, the right to health care, medical care and health insurance;
10.Right to education.
ІІІ. Realization of collective rights of indigenous peoples of Ukraine
1. The right to self-determination of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine has been realized – amendments have been made to Chapter X of the Constitution of Ukraine – the national-territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people has been restored;
2. Implementation of the Law of Ukraine “On Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine” – the laws of Ukraine and other regulatory acts have been brought in line with this Law;
3. The activities of representative bodies of indigenous peoples in Crimea have been restored with the appropriate regulation of their legal status;
4. The principle of free, prior and informed consent on issues related to the rights and legitimate interests of indigenous peoples of Ukraine is being implemented;
5. The right to allocate part of the revenues received by the budgets of all levels from the use of natural resources located on the territory of Crimea to the needs of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine is being realized;
6. The media of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine have been created;
7. Educational institutions have been established to ensure the study of the language, history, and culture of indigenous peoples;
8. Revival and development of spiritual, religious and cultural traditions and customs, preservation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage have been ensured;
9. Historical justice has been restored, historical place names in Crimea have been restored, and a legal assessment of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people has been provided;
10. The representation of indigenous peoples in the Ukrainian government at all levels is secured.
IV. The Autonomous Republic of Crimea is a national-territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatar people
1.Amendments have been made to Section X of the Constitution of Ukraine: the Autonomous Republic of Crimea within the Crimean peninsula – national-territorial autonomy – is a form of realization of the right of the Crimean Tatar people to internal self-determination and a guarantee of the protection of the rights of other indigenous peoples and national minorities of Ukraine in Crimea;
2.The Autonomous Republic of Crimea has the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which is adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, approved by the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people and approved by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine;
3.Acts of the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on the implementation and protection of the rights of indigenous peoples are adopted on the basis of the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples;
4.Acts of the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and representative bodies of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people cannot contradict international law, the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine;
5.The representative body of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, whose deputies are elected on the basis of universal, equal, direct suffrage by secret ballot. The guaranteed representation of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is at least 1/3 of its composition and has the right to veto decisions that violate the norms of the Constitution of Ukraine and the rights of indigenous peoples;
6.The Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, within the limits of its powers, makes decisions and resolutions that are binding in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea;
7.The government of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is appointed and dismissed from office by the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea upon the proposal of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, agreed with the President of Ukraine;
8.Justice in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea is administered by the courts of Ukraine;
9.The President of Ukraine may stop the operation of acts of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea or acts of representative bodies of the Crimean Tatar people that do not comply with the Constitution of Ukraine and the laws of Ukraine, while simultaneously appealing to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine regarding their constitutionality or to the court regarding their legality;
10. The representation of indigenous peoples of Ukraine in elected bodies of local self-government should be proportional to the demographic indicators of the relative number of indigenous peoples of Ukraine in the territory within which the relevant body operates.
V. Crimea is an economically developed and touristically attractive region of Ukraine
1. Crimea, as a part of Ukraine, is an important region in the system of global relations in the world;
2. Crimea is the southern gateway of Ukraine, the homeland of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine, a crossroads of cultures and religions, a region of two seas, endless steppes, mountain forests and unique landscapes, has an interesting and rich history, is attractive to tourists, and provides, on the basis of self-sufficient communities, local resources and a balanced economic complex, comfortable and decent living conditions for the multinational population of the peninsula;
3. In the economic sphere, the agro-industrial complex, tourism and recreation, processing and mining industries, and the maritime sector have been developed;
4. In the social sphere, a person is in the focus of attention, as well as the quality of his/her life;
5. The type of specialization of the economic complex of Crimea in Ukraine is characterized as industrial-agricultural-transportation-recreational with the function of wholesale and retail trade and services;
6. From the geopolitical point of view, the main wealth of Crimea is its favorable position on the largest trade communications of Europe and Asia (along the lines “Europe-Asia” (analogous to the Great Silk Road) and “Baltic-Black Sea”);
7. Renewable energy sources have been developed;
8. Recreational economy and sanatorium and medical complex have been developed;
9. Ethno- and green tourism has been developed;
10. The traditional economy of indigenous peoples, in particular tea farming and environmentally friendly agricultural products, have been developed.
You can read more about each of these points in our next publications.