Turkish President says return of Crimea to Ukraine is a requirement of international law

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Crimea should return to Ukraine in accordance with international law.

This was reported by Yevropeiska Pravda with reference to Erdogan's video address to the participants of the Crimean Platform.

Erdogan noted that the annexation of Crimea, which Turkey opposed from the first day, further deepened the suffering of the Crimean Tatars, who survived deportation 80 years ago.

"Our support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine remains unwavering. The return of Crimea to Ukraine is a requirement of international law," the Turkish president said.

He emphasized that ensuring the security and well-being of Crimean Tatars is one of the priorities of Turkey's foreign policy. Erdogan also emphasized that Crimean Tatars have the right to live a free, safe and peaceful life in their homeland.

"It is gratifying that in June, after almost three years of captivity, the Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly of Crimean Tatars Nariman Dzhelal was released. We hope for the speedy release of all Crimean Tatars, including brothers Asan and Aziz Akhtemov," Erdogan said.

He expressed hope that the war in Ukraine would end in a just and lasting peace based on the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine.

Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he hoped that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan would help in the return of Crimean Tatars from Russian captivity. According to Zelenskyy, no world leader has yet managed to return Crimean Tatars from Russian captivity. Thanks to the exchanges that took place before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, "several people" were returned home.

The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea also called on the international community to pay attention to the crimes of the occupiers. The statement says that the occupation court of Simferopol sent five illegally detained residents of Dzhankoy and Dzhankoy district of Crimea to the pre-trial detention center. These are Enver Khalilayev, Nariman Ametov, Ali Mamutov, Imam of the Lobanovo village mosque Vahide Mustafayev and activist Arsen Kashko. All the detainees were taken into custody for two months.

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