MFA calls on the world to respond to repressions against Crimean women

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine <b>has condemned </b>the latest wave of repression unleashed by the Russian occupation structures against the Crimean Tatar people and called on the international community to respond immediately.

This is stated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Massive searches and detentions took place on the morning of October 15 in the homes of Crimean Tatars in several districts of the occupied Crimea. There are six women among the detainees: <b>Esma Nimetulayeva</b> (wife of a political prisoner and mother of five children), <b>Nasiba Saidova</b> (student and kindergarten teacher), as well as <b>Elvira Aliyeva, Elianora Osmanova and Fevziye Osmanova</b>.

'These persecutions are in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, in particular the Fourth Geneva Convention, and fundamental human rights. They once again demonstrate the criminal nature of the Russian occupation regime, which resorts to torture, trumped-up charges and terror against civilians,'' the Foreign Ministry explained.

The Ministry emphasized that Russian propaganda media spread fictitious accusations about a "women's cell that promoted the ideas of a world caliphate" in an attempt to justify repression and portray peaceful women - mothers, educators and students - as "terrorists.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on the international community, human rights organizations and the media to pay special attention to these events and demand the immediate release of all detainees, as well as all illegally detained citizens of Ukraine.

The ministry summarized that such actions are part of Moscow's systematic offensive aimed at destroying the national identity of the Crimean Tatar people and assured: "No crime of the occupiers will go unpunished. Crimea was and remains a part of Ukraine".

Катерина Глушко