Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that the Russian authorities' ban on holding traditional rallies to honor the memory of the victims of the Crimean Tatars' genocide and deportation on May 18, 1944, is unacceptable.
Erdogan said this during telephone conversation with Crimean Tatar leader, MP Mustafa Jemilev to discuss the 71st anniversary of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, the press service of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people reported on Wednesday, with reference to Anadolu Ajansi, a Turkish news agency.
Erdogan told Jemilev that Turkey was sympathetic towards their Crimean Tatar compatriots during their time of mourning, adding that the Turkish authorities had issued a statement on the issue beforehand.
The deportation of the Crimean Tatar people is a dark page in history and this inhuman incident won’t be forgotten, Erdogan said.
Erdogan said that has Turkey stood for the peace, prosperity and safety of Crimean Tatars since the beginning of the Ukrainian crisis.
He said that the ongoing events in Crimea are worrying and that the Russian authorities’ ban on holding a march and rally on May 18 is unacceptable.
In turn, Jemilev thanked Erdogan for his support and understating on the situation in Crimea.
