Human Rights Week of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center
Why is it necessary to restore historical toponymy in Crimea?
CTRC recorded 7,067 human rights violations in the occupied peninsula
New resolution on the militarization of Crimea
United States of America Pledges Diplomatic Boycott of China's 2022 Winter Olympics
We'll talk about this in the 66th release of the #LIBERATECRIMEA blog
On Thursday, December 9, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center announced the beginning of a human rights week dedicated to protecting human rights in the occupied Crimea and ensuring the collective rights of Crimean Tatars as an indigenous people of Ukraine.
It is worth emphasizing that the Crimean Tatar Resource Center has been systematically working in this direction since the beginning of its activity: it monitors human rights violations, including the collective rights of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine in the occupied Crimea, documents human rights violations and informs the international community about the situation in the occupied Crimea.
In our opinion, the human rights week will additionally draw the attention of the Ukrainian and international community to the problem of human rights violations in the occupied peninsula.
And the Crimean Tatar Resource Center began the human rights week with the XXII session of the Crimean Discussion Club on the topic Historical Toponymy of Crimea: Present and Future, which was supported by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom in Ukraine.
Why exactly from historical toponymy? You ask?
December 9 – Day of Remembrance for Victims of Genocide Crime, Their Honor, Dignity and Prevention of Crime.
Over the past century, 3 genocides have been committed on the territory of Ukraine: Holodomor, Holocaust, Deportation of the Crimean Tatar people.
Therefore, the first day of the human rights week was devoted to the restoration of the historical toponymy of Crimea, which is of great importance for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the previously deported Crimean Tatar people, for whom the preservation of their identity is vital.
And outside the maternal landscape, there are no conditions for the full functioning of specific skills in environmental management, traditional management, and national culture.
Moreover, the restoration of historical place names in Crimea is a step towards the de-occupation of Crimea.
Just remember the Russian reaction to the adoption of the law On Indigenous Peoples.
Believe me, it will be the same, if not more!
We remind you that in order to restore the historical toponymy of Crimea, there are already three laws of Ukraine, which make it possible to restore historical justice. And after the adoption of the Resolution by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, all world cartography will have to use historical names.
Thus, Ukraine will be able to demonstrate… Who is the boss!
On December 10, on the International Day of Human Rights, the CTRC once again reminded of the atrocities of the Russian Federation. Russia, in violation of international law, continues to carry out massive repressions and put pressure on the Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian activists on the territory of the Crimean peninsula.
So, according to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, for 2017 – 2021, the following was recorded on the peninsula:
342 searches (256 in relation to the Crimean Tatars)
1215 detentions (1006 in relation to the Crimean Tatars)
1142 interrogations (878 in relation to the Crimean Tatars)
1,036 arrests (781 in relation to the Crimean Tatars)
2,550 violations of the right to a fair trial (1,569 in relation to the Crimean Tatars)
501 violations of the right to healthcare access (315 in relation to the Crimean Tatars)
281 transferrings (208 in relation to the Crimean Tatars).
In total, in 2017-2021, 7067 violations of basic human rights were recorded in the occupied Crimea, 5015 – against representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.
Really terrifying performance, isn't it?
Therefore, in order to prevent their increase, it is necessary to systematically inform the international community about the situation in the occupied Crimea.
And now we have another reaction of the world.
US President Joe Biden told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Kremlin will pay a terrible price and face devastating economic consequences if it invades Ukraine.
On December 9, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 4 on Russia's militarization of the occupied Crimea. This year, 64 countries supported the document, 93 abstained and 20 voted against.
The resolution contains important support for the Crimean platform, calls on the Russian Federation to stop the transfer of weapons and military personnel to the peninsula, and to stop violating the freedom of navigation in the Black and Azov Seas.
Well, this is another reminder of an authoritative international organization. And this is also important for the further sanctions policy against the Russian Federation, which still works and gives results.
And the G7 countries warned Russia on Sunday about serious consequences if President Vladimir Putin attacks Ukraine.
In response to human rights violations, the United States of America has taken important steps and announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, to be held in China in February 2022. The essence of the boycott is the non-participation of US officials and diplomatic representatives in the winter games in China.
The decision of the American authorities is connected with the massive repression of the indigenous Uyghur people. According to human rights activists, more than a million Muslims and members of religious minorities are in China in so-called re-education camps in inhumane conditions.
Currently, Australia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Canada, the Republic of Lithuania, and New Zealand have joined the US initiative.
And what about Ukraine?
Maybe you need to take an example from a small but brave Lithuania?
Maybe it would also be necessary to join our partners, this would be a consistent step in the context of the struggle for human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in Crimea and the Donbas.
Fight for Crimea!
Fight for Ukraine!