The world's recognition of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people as an act of genocide will emphasise the inalienable right of the indigenous people of Ukraine to self-determination and will become an additional support for the territorial integrity of our state, — Oleksandr Korniienko took part in the meeting of the representatives of the Estonian Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
25 September 2024, 19:34
Oleksandr Korniienko, the First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, delivered an opening speech at a working meeting of the representatives of the Estonian Parliament and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people.
The participants of the event held consultations on the process of recognising by the Estonian parliament the deportation of Crimean Tatars from Crimea in 1944 as an act of genocide against the Crimean Tatar people.
"It is important for Ukrainians, it is important for the Crimean Tatar people and it is important for the world. It is important to restore historical justice, to give a true name to the events and to call things by their proper names," said the First Vice-Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, noting that for more than 10 years, Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars have been fighting together for Ukraine's independence.
Recognition of the deportation of Crimean Tatars as genocide at the level of the world's states will underline the inalienable right of the indigenous people of Ukraine to self-determination and will be an additional support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In addition, it will be a testament to the fulfilment of the international community's commitments to combat genocidal practices. "We want the world to recognise the deportation as genocide of the Crimean Tatar people.
We hope that Estonia will also take this step," said Oleksandr Korniienko. According to him, the recognition of the deportation of Crimean Tatars as genocide is also an important step because russia is reproducing the colonial policy of the soviet era in the occupied territories.
As of 19 September 2024, five countries have recognised the 1944 deportation as genocide: Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Canada, and Poland. "The issue of recognising the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people by other countries is extremely important to us. We hope that we will be able to achieve further results before and during the Crimea Platform Parliamentary Summit in October," Oleksandr Korniienko stressed.
Concluding his speech, the First Vice-Speaker expressed gratitude to the Riigikogu for its unwavering support and solidarity with Ukraine in its fight against russian aggression.