18 May 2015, 10:15
Dear compatriots,
May 18, 1944 is one of the most tragic dates in the history of the XX century. This was the day when Stalin declared Crimean Tatars "betrayers" and banished them from their homes.
Over almost 50 years, Crimean Tatars did not have right even to tread on their native land. Those, who had courage to try to return, were arrested and thrown into camps.
Only the declaration of independent Ukraine gave the people an opportunity to return to their native land. However, unfortunately the Russian Federation is creating ghetto on the Crimean peninsula where there is no place for the Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, no place for the Ukrainian and Tatar languages and even thoughts.
Dear brothers Crimean Tatars! Today whole Ukraine is paying court in memory of victims of the deportation. I am confident our peoples will together manage to win better life on the native land for ourselves and our children.
Crimea is Ukraine!
Volodymyr GROYSMAN