Today in the European Parliament we discussed the topic of Crimean Tatars. Russian annexation of Crimea is illegal and needs to stop. Crimea must be returned to Ukraine. Until this is not the case, Russia is obliged to protect the Crimean people from any form of discrimination and to protect their human rights. Sadly we are witnessing the opposite. The banning of Mejlis and the persecution of its members is deplorable and has to stop.
I made a proposal to nominate Mustafa Dzhemilev as one of the candidates for the Sakharov Prize. He is a leader of the Crimean Tatars who has been banned from entering Crimea for his activities in promoting the human rights of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea.
EU needs to send a clear message that we do not tolerate the current occupation of Crimea and the repressions of the Crimean Tatars.