A solemn meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine devoted to the 100th anniversary of the first Kurultai of the Crimean Tatars
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy opened the solemn meeting.A.Parubiy said that the event was attended by former presidents of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk and Viktor Yushchenko, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, politicians, representatives of the Ukrainian and foreign diplomatic corps, foreign Crimean Tatar diaspora, scientific institutions and public associations. The State Anthem of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatars Anthem were performed in the session hall. The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy addressed the participants of the solemn meeting.
Iryna Lutsenko, the representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada, read the greetings of the President. Presidential Commissioner for affairs of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemiliev addressed the participants of the solemn meeting. Participants of the meeting reviewed a video on the 100th anniversary of the first Kurultai of the Crimean Tatars.
The head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars, the President of the World Congress of the Crimean Tatars, Refat Chubarov, pointed out that there was a radical change in the attitude towards the 100th anniversary of the first Kurultai of the Crimean Tatars.
The deputy chairman of the Constitutional Commission of Ukraine, chairman of the working group on amendments preparation to Section X “Autonomous Republic of Crimea” of the Constitution of Ukraine Bohdan Butkevych spoke about the history and culture of the Crimean Tatars at different periods and their contribution to the common culture.
The head of the Muslims Spiritual Boards of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Muftiy Aider Rustemov, said that today, just like 100 years ago, the Crimean Tatars are fighting for their right to land. “Crimea is Ukraine,” he said. The participants of the solemn meeting were congratulated by the Vice-President of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars Miukremin Shakhin.
First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Herashchenko, who held the solemn meeting, noted that the Verkhovna Rada would do everything to return the Crimea. “We understand that this struggle should take place not only at the level of rhetoric and legislation, not only during the participation of our parliamentary delegations at international, inter-parliamentary platforms, but also in particular assistance to the families of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars who remain on the occupied territory”.
I.Herashchenko said that the State Budget for 2018 will support the position, that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry for Temporary Occupied Territories will have a special line on establishing legal support fund for those families whose representatives are currently detained by the occupation regime. “We will also do our utmost to ensure that within the framework of the amendments to the Constitution, these important things took place, which our colleagues emphasized in their speeches,” noted I. Herashenko and thanked the participants for participation in the solemn meeting for heroism and invincibility, thanked the leaders of the Crimean Tatars, Turkey for the important mediation work for the release the leaders of the Crimean Tatars, Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chyihoz, and asked not to stop this work until the release all political prisoners of the Kremlin and the Crimean Tatars. Iryna Herashchenko declared the solemn meeting closed.
The State Anthem of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatars Anthem were performed in the session hall.
On 5 October, 2017 members of parliament decided to hold a solemn meeting of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first Kurultai of the Crimean Tatars.
In 2017, it has been 100 years since the first Kurultai of the Crimean Tatars - the national assembly – was gathered. This date is one of the most prominent in the history of the Crimea and the Crimean Tatars. Following the results of the first Kurultay of the Crimean Tatars, the Crimean People's Republic was declared, its Government was formed, the Constitution was adopted and state symbols were approved.