On May 18, Ukraine commemorates the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people - one of the most tragic pages of our history.

It was on this day in 1944 that the Soviet totalitarian regime began the mass deportation of the Crimean Tatars from their historical homeland - Crimea. In a matter of days, tens of thousands of people were forcibly deported to remote regions of the USSR. People lost their homes, property, the right to their native land, and thousands - their very lives.

This crime was directed not only against individual people, but against an entire people - its culture, language, traditions and historical memory. That is why the deportation of the Crimean Tatars is recognized as genocide.

Despite years of exile, persecution and bans, the Crimean Tatar people managed to preserve their identity, revive the national movement and return home. This is a story not only of a great tragedy, but also of strength of spirit, the struggle for dignity and the right to live on their land.

Today, this topic remains painfully relevant. The temporary occupation of Crimea by Russia is once again accompanied by persecution of Crimean Tatars, pressure on the community, the ban on the activities of the Mejlis, searches and political persecution. History once again reminds us of how dangerous attempts to destroy freedom, culture and the right of a people to self-determination are.

Honoring the memory of the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people, we tell the truth about the crimes of the totalitarian regime, support the struggle for justice and emphasize: Crimea is Ukraine, and the rights of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people must be protected.