Erdogan phones Crimean Tatar leader to mark exile
Turkish president calls Dzhemilev to express solidarity with Crimean Tatars, marking 1944 mass deportation under Stalin.
ANKARA
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday phoned the leader of Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev over the 71st anniversary of the mass deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944.
"Turkey is in solidarity with their Crimean Tatar brothers in these days of mourning," the Turkish Presidency quoted Erdogan as saying.
Erdogan said the exile the Crimean Tatars suffered was a “dark page” in history, adding that the "inhumane" incident would never be forgotten.
The president conveyed his condolences to all victims of the exile.
“Turkey gives priority to the peace, welfare and security of Crimean Tatars from the beginning of the Ukrainian issue,” said Erdogan, referring to the annexation of Crimea by Russia last year in March.
Erdogan also criticized Russian authorities over banning Crimean Tatars from holding a commemorative ceremony over the anniversary of the exile, calling it "unacceptable”.
Dzhemilev, for his part, thanked the president for Turkey's sensitivity and support for Crimean Tatars.
Around 250,000 Crimean Tatars were taken from their homes and forced to migrate thousands of kilometers away to Central Asia under Soviet leader Joseph Stalin in 1944.
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