Crimean organisations' assembly responds to UN secretary general's remarks on Crimea's "self-determination"

The Assembly of Crimean Organisations has addressed UN Secretary General António Guterres regarding Crimea's "self-determination", stressing support for Ukraine's sovereignty and the right of Crimean Tatars to autonomy within Ukraine.

Source: Krym.Realii (Crimea.Realities), a project by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Details: The Assembly of Crimean Organisations sent a statement to UN Secretary General António Guterres following his comments on the application of the self-determination principle to Crimea.

In its statement, the assembly stressed that Crimean Tatars, as the indigenous people of Crimea, "consistently support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, do not recognise the illegal referendum and the attempt by Russia to annex Crimea in 2014".

The assembly said its rejection of manipulated claims of self-determination should not be confused with denying the inalienable right of Crimea's indigenous people to self-determination in its internationally recognised meaning.

Quote: "This concerns the right of Crimean Tatars to internal self-determination and the creation of a national territorial autonomy within a sovereign Ukraine."

More details: The assembly added that international approaches to the liberation and future of Crimea must be shaped with regard to the status of Crimean Tatars as an indigenous people, their collective will and their legitimate representative bodies.

Background:

• UN Secretary General António Guterres has rejected Russia's bid to justify Crimea and Donbas occupation as "self-determination".
• Earlier, in an interview with Turkish media, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia had submitted a request to the UN seeking recognition of the "right" of residents of Donbas and Crimea to self-determination.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!