Refat Chubarov made speeches at the panel discussion at the Parliament which was devoted to the second anniversary of Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea as well as at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs.

The Leader of the Mejlis emphasized that today there are no human rights which are not being violated in Crimea.

“President Putin treats Crimean Tatars the same way as Stalin did back in 1944 – they are prosecuted, sentenced on fabricated charges, forced to leave their land”, - said Refat Chubarov.

While recalling Nadiya Savchenko, Oleh Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko and other political prisoners kept by Russia, the Leader of the Mejlis called on to double efforts aimed at protecting Crimean Tatars from prosecution and their release from Russian jails.

Refat Chubarov expressed gratitude to the British Government and parliamentarians for their clear position on non-recognition of Crimea’s annexation. He also noted that Russia is trying to undermine the unity within the international community, including by using internal situation in Ukraine. In this regard he stressed that economic sanctions introduced against Russia are working and have to be strengthened. Crimea must be further kept on the international agenda.