The meeting was attended by the leaders of the Mejlis and MPs of Ukraine. The following is what Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, said on the occasion of the Sejm's decision: 

"The mortal danger that hangs over the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples, the Ukrainian state, and the entire civilized world today should encourage all of us to hurry up and eradicate the fierce Russian beast. That is why legal and political assessments by states of the crimes against humanity committed by Moscow against freedom-loving peoples are very necessary and important. 

Today, the Sejm of the Republic of Poland discussed and voted on the Resolution "On honoring the memory of the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people". The Resolution was approved by 414 votes in favor, 16 against, and two abstentions. 

The approved Resolution states that, and I quote: "The deportation of the Crimean Tatars from Crimea in 1944 and its consequences were an act of genocide against the Crimean Tatar people". 

In addition, the approved Resolution gives an appropriate assessment of the crimes committed by Russia during its military aggression against Ukraine, which is taking place every day. Recognition by the Polish Sejm of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people in 1944 and its consequences as genocide is important to avoid the recurrence of similar catastrophes against any people in the future. It is well known that unpunished evil tends to return with even greater consequences and human casualties.

The adoption of a decision regarding the tragedy of the Crimean Tatar people, which occurred as a result of an international crime that is not only not completed, but has taken a new turn these days, should be a signal to draw the attention of the international community to the fate of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people, to the fate of all persons persecuted by the Russian occupiers, to the situation of Crimean political prisoners who are being ill-treated in Russian prisons and colonies. 

We should be completely open and honest. The continuation of Russia's occupation of Crimea is nothing more than Moscow's deliberate destruction of the Crimean Tatar people. Conversely, an objective and fair legal assessment of the deportation and its consequences will mean that Ukraine and the international community will realize the importance of radical and timely measures aimed at developing and preserving the Crimean Tatar people in their homeland in Crimea, which is an integral part of the Ukrainian state. 

Thus, Poland's recognition of the 1944 deportation as genocide of the Crimean Tatar people should be perceived as a necessity to address all the consequences of this crime as soon as possible. Starting from the restoration of the historical toponyms of Crimea to the transformation of the legal status of Crimea, the Crimean autonomy must meet all the conditions that will ensure the realization of the Crimean Tatar people's right to self-determination on their land as part of Ukraine".

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Statement of the Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Akhtem Chiygoz: 

"Our people have subjectivity on international platforms, they have subjectivity in relations with many states, and this works very positively for Ukraine. And where our partners have our authority and historical perception, we try to use it to support Ukraine. For example, Turkey, and now Poland. This is our second visit when parliamentarians openly talk about respect and trust for our people, our history, and our struggle. The same is true when we meet with our American partners, where our relationship goes back many decades. We have always used our opportunity to support the Ukrainian state because we have always fought for Ukraine to move in the European direction.

We return to Ukraine with confidence and with another factor of subjectivity. 

We have been working with other states for many years on the topic of genocide recognition. We embarked on this path many years ago and we have some experience and results: Lithuania, Latvia, and Canada have recognized the deportation of Crimean Tatars as genocide. The question is that in this case, Poland plays a key role in these issues both geopolitically and militarily, given that we are in the midst of a very large war, and this influence should further help us if the parliaments of the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Romania respond to support our efforts.

I think that the Czech Republic is the closest of those partners who know our problems deeply and may be the next to recognize the genocide".

^{photo: Facebook-profile of Mykola Kniazhytskyi}

^{photo: Facebook-profile of Mykola Kniazhytskyi}

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