The ban of Mejlis which is a key body of national self-governance of the Crimean Tatars, the activities of which are based on a principle of non-violence, has become another gross violation committed by the occupational authorities of fundamental human rights and freedoms, including of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

This unprecedented repressive decision has become another appealing evidence of the systematic prosecution of the Crimean Tatar People due to its principled position on the Russian occupation of Crimea.

Ukraine demands the state-occupant to abolish immediately the decision that is vile by its essence and the legal nature and to cease completely the harassment of the Crimean Tatar community in the Crimea.

The situation once again demonstrates the urgent need for the international community to double efforts aimed at protecting human rights in the occupied Crimea and providing unimpeded access for international human rights organizations to monitor the human rights situation.

To put an end to systematic violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms in the occupied Crimea, cease repressions and intimidation is only possible by forcing the state-occupant to stop the aggression against Ukraine and return to strict compliance with international law and its international legal obligations. In this regard we urge Ukraine's partners, including key guarantors of its security under the Budapest Memorandum, to intensify efforts in order to launch an international mechanism for de-occupation of the Crimea.