PRESS RELEASE
On May 18, Ukraine solemnly observes the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Genocide of the Crimean Tatar People and the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repressions. These commemorations honor the memory of those who suffered under Soviet totalitarianism and continue to face oppression under contemporary regimes. In 1944, the Soviet authorities forcibly deported over 190,000 Crimean Tatars from their ancestral homeland, an act recognized by Ukraine as genocide. This tragic event is remembered alongside the broader spectrum of political repressions that have afflicted countless individuals throughout history.
CIVIL – Center for Freedom stands in unwavering solidarity with the Crimean Tatar people and all victims of political repression. We unequivocally condemn the 1944 genocide perpetrated by the Soviet regime and denounce the ongoing human rights violations committed by the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea. Since the illegal annexation in 2014, Crimean Tatars have faced systematic persecution, including arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and suppression of their cultural and political rights. These actions represent a continuation of historical injustices and an affront to human dignity.
In this context, CIVIL highlights the case of Vilen Temeryanov, a Crimean Tatar journalist and civic activist unjustly detained by Russian occupation authorities. Temeryanov’s courageous reporting on human rights abuses in Crimea has led to baseless charges aimed at silencing dissent. Xhabir Deralla, president of CIVIL and a dedicated human rights defender, has publicly advocated for Temeryanov’s immediate release, emphasizing that his imprisonment is a blatant attack on freedom of expression and the right to dissent. CIVIL calls upon the international community to demand Temeryanov’s release and to stand in solidarity with all those persecuted for defending truth and justice in occupied Crimea.
CIVIL – Center for Freedom
