VP/HR — Situation of Crimean Tatars

12.5.2016

Question for written answer E-003966-16
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Andrej Plenković (PPE)

As part of the systemic repression of organised opposition to the occupying regime, the so-called Supreme Court of the illegally annexed Crimea declared the supreme executive council of the Crimean Tatars — the Mejlis — an extremist organisation and prohibited its activities.

As the central representative body of the Tatars, the Mejlis has operated in parallel with the authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea since 1991. However, after annexation, the Crimean Tatars boycotted and condemned the illegal referendum and annexation, which led to a worsening of their position. Since then, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars has come under pressure from the Russian authorities through legal and extralegal means of coercion. These have included an unlawful ban on the leaders and activists of the Crimean Tatar nation entering Crimea and over 130 criminal trials. Furthermore, over 20 000 Crimean Tatars have fled from this atmosphere of intimidation, threats and persecution. Restrictions on freedom of speech, pressure on minority cultural and educational institutions and the withdrawal of the broadcasting licence of the largest Crimean Tatar television station are impermissible attacks on Tatar cultural and linguistic identity.

What steps does High Representative Mogherini intend to take in connection with the ban on the Mejlis's activities and the violation of the fundamental rights of national minorities in annexed Crimea? How can pressure be brought to bear by the EU on the Russian authorities so that they put a stop to the blatant violations of national minorities' rights?