Crimean Tatar groups meet to slam 'totalitarian' Russia

ANKARA

Almost 200 Crimean Tatar groups from 12 countries are set to meet in Ankara this weekend.

The World Crimean Tatars Congress Drafting Committee announced that 180 NGOs from 12 different countries will discuss what they call international cooperation against illegal acts and pressure by Russia on Crimean Tatars.

Tuncer Kalkay, chairman of the Crimean Turks Culture and Fraternal Association, told Anadolu Agency that “Crimean Tatars, who turned back to their hometowns after the breakdown of the Soviet Union, are still under the same totalitarian pressure of Russia.”

“Since Feb. 27, 2014, at least 15,000 people had to leave Crimea,” he claimed.

Crimea was annexed by Russia in March 2014 following a heavily contested local referendum.

The peninsula's 300,000-strong Crimean Tatars largely boycotted the referendum, which was denounced as illegal by Ukraine and the West.

Deputy Speaker of the Turkish parliament Naci Bostanci, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin will attend the congress in the Bilkent Hotel and Conference Center, Ankara between August 1 and 2.

The first congress was held in May 2009 in Crimea with the attendance of at least 800 delegates from 160 NGOs from 12.