President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska participated in the unveiling of the Memorial to the Victims of the Crimean Tatar Genocide.
Joining them in honoring the memory of the Crimean Tatars were Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Miloš Vystrčil, President of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova Igor Grosu, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev, along with government officials, ambassadors, military personnel, representatives of the Crimean Tatar community, and members of the public.
The President noted that they had all gathered to commemorate one of the darkest tragedies in the history of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar people – the genocide and deportation carried out by the Soviet authorities, particularly the Chekists, in 1944.
The memorial was unveiled in the framework of the Fourth Summit of the Crimea Platform.
The President emphasized the symbolism of the Ukrainian national memorial being placed at this particular site, where for half a century, a monument to the Chekists had stood before being dismantled several years ago.
“Today, at this site, we are unveiling a memorial to honor the memory of the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people, the genocide of the Crimean Tatars. And as a symbol that tyrants and dictators will always be defeated. We are unveiling this memorial at a time when history is repeating itself, when Crimea has once again become a battlefield for freedom, dignity, and the right to live – to live on one's own land,” the Head of State said.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed confidence that one day a similar memorial would surely appear in a free, Ukrainian Crimea.
“Crimea is not just a territory. It is part of our soul, it is the land where our people lived in peace, in harmony with their culture, their language, their traditions. We are not just fighting for the return of Crimea – we are fighting for the restoration of justice, for the opportunity for every Crimean to return home to their Crimea, free from Russia and fear,” the President emphasized.
He also noted that the Peace Formula plan includes the plan for Crimea’s return, the restoration of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people, Ukrainians, and all those living on this land.
Mustafa Dzhemilev added that this memorial not only honors the victims of the Crimean Tatar genocide but also serves as a reminder of the kind of neighbor we have to live with.
"For 10 years now, the people of Crimea have been in the clutches of the successors and followers of the regime that carried out the mass genocide of the Crimean Tatar people," Dzhemilev said.
