On the eve of the 30th anniversary of independence in 2021, Ukraine established the international diplomatic format of the Crimean Platform. At the same time, its objective was proclaimed – to increase pressure on the Kremlin, overcome the consequences of the annexation of Crimea, prevent human rights violations on the peninsula and receive assistance for its eviction.

A year later, the situation changed radically. With the onset of large-scale Russian aggression, new territories of Ukraine were already under occupation. However, on August 23, the Crimea Platform summit will be held for the second time – at the highest level, organizers guarantee. Only this year, due to security threats, will it be held online.

“Crimean Platform” and propaganda of the Russian Federation

The first summit of the forum was attended by 46 countries and international organizations. At the leadership level, only 14 were represented. “The summit was somewhat successful – it brought together representatives from all NATO and EU countries.. – Ed.) Angela Merkel or (President of France. – Ed.) Emmanuel Macron”, observes the director of the World Policy Institute, Evgeny Magda, in conversation with DW. Kyiv was also criticized for the insufficiently high representation of the United States (in the end, the summit was attended by the Minister of Energy), absence from Azerbaijan, Israel, countries in Africa, South America and Asia, except Japan.

Magda does not expect advances in the representation of the new summit: “There are already other challenges. When there are more than 50 countries in the Rammstein subject format (Military Assistance Summit to Kyiv. – Ed.), then the “Crimean Platform”, known only to experts, fades into the background. And Russian propaganda works, so waiting for representatives from India or China is an illusion.” or Boris Johnson to speak.”

The representative of the President of Ukraine in Crimea, Tamila Tasheva, admits that it is difficult to attract new partners to the Crimean Platform: “Unfortunately, the Russian Federation is actively working and its propaganda affects many countries.” During the year, only one country joined the platform – Liechtenstein. At the same time, Tasheva notes that expanding the platform’s geography was a task defined by Vladimir Zelensky for Itamaraty and guarantees that, despite Russia’s efforts, the circle of participants will expand this year.

According to DW, about ten new countries are expected to attend the summit on August 23, but their names are not publicly disclosed. From open sources, it is only known that Zelensky invited the president of Guatemala to the summit when he was recently on a visit to Kyiv.

“Crimean platform” without expert discussion?

Unlike last year’s format, where, in addition to guest speeches, several expert discussions were held and all countries signed the Crimea Declaration, this year’s summit will be limited to speeches by participants and their joint statement.

The director of the World Policy Institute notes that the lack of expert discussion could turn the summit into a “speech writing competition”. Firstly, he would like to hear at the event a report on the results of the platform’s work at least six months before a full-scale war. “For a lot of people, they’re not obvious. I can’t see any of the significant informational events,” says Magda.

Tamila Tasheva

The President’s representative does not agree with the last thesis. Tasheva notes the creation of a Crimean Platform national office, which produces analysis of the situation in Crimea for foreign partners, and the creation of a network of forum representatives in participating countries to help disseminate this information. “Ukraine is working a lot at the domestic level: in the plan for the implementation of the Crimean eviction strategy, in the legislative issues of educational qualification of citizens in the occupied territories or in the assistance to political prisoners”, she explains.

Yevgeny Yaroshenko, an analyst at the Crimean Platform NGO involved in the Crimean Platform working groups, told DW that they created records of 42 judges who sentence Ukrainian politicians in Crimea and 18 military commissioners who enlisted in the ranks of the occupation army in Crimea. spring. The lists were provided to the Ukrainian authorities and international partners for the imposition of sanctions against these individuals or legal proceedings within the framework of criminal proceedings. However, Yaroshenko acknowledges that while these proposals are being considered.

War against Ukraine and eviction from Crimea

Due to the Russian Federation’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the Crimea Platform summit is facing new challenges. “It is necessary to show that Crimea has become a springboard for the invasion of the Ukrainian mainland, and there is a clear connection between the security of southern Ukraine and the demilitarization of the peninsula. Leaders should reflect on the declaration that the aggression began with the occupation.” of Crimea and must end with their eviction”, believes Crimea SOS.

The position of the director of the World Policy Institute is tougher. He believes that Ukraine at the summit should convey to its partners the position that large-scale aggression forces us to consider not only the diplomatic but also the military way of returning territories. “We cannot yet create Kherson and other platforms, but our strategic line has expanded. Crimea is just one component, and its return requires resolving issues of Crimean Tatar autonomy, indigenous peoples’ rights and use of the Russian language,” Magda believe.

Refat Chubarov

The head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, has similar expectations. Mejlis is involved in the preparation of the summit and has already submitted its proposals for the draft declaration, which must be approved. “Last year, participants agreed that a dialogue with Russia is necessary for a peaceful end to the occupation of Crimea. and said clearly that they will make every effort to restore sovereignty over Crimea as soon as possible, and the end of the war will come with the liberation of the peninsula,” Chubarov said. He would also like this year’s declaration to take into account the rights of the Crimean Tatar indigenous people. “It is important to talk about the restoration of sovereignty over Crimea, but it is equally important to show how it will develop when Ukrainian flags fly over it again,” the Mejlis chief said.

“Crimean platform” – continues

The representative of the President of Ukraine Tasheva draws attention to the fact that the summit, which will be held on August 23, is just one of the components of the Crimean Platform’s work. In addition, Ukraine is preparing a conference on security in one of the foreign states and a series of events within the framework of the UN General Assembly.

According to DW, already on October 24 in Croatia they plan to hold the next summit – at the level of the heads of parliaments. “This format is very important. It helps to adopt resolutions that reflect events in Crimea in the US Congress or the German Bundestag, as well as to make decisions more quickly and synchronously within international organizations – the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe or the OSCE”, explains KrymSOS.

The parliamentary summit must be held offline. It is on this that they will hold substantial expert discussions. A joint document for signature is also being prepared for the event, but participants are not yet ready to disclose the details of this process due to opposition from the Russian side. Since March 2014, Russian authorities consider the Crimean Peninsula to be part of Russian territory.