Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi on Friday accused Russia of repression against the Crimean Tatar community, promising to restore control over the annexed peninsula during Ramadan iftar, France-Presse and Agerpres reported.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented awards to several Ukrainian military personnel of the Muslim faithPhoto: Yefrem Lukatsky / AP / Profimedia

“Russia’s attempt to subjugate Ukraine… began with the occupation of Crimea, with the suppression of the freedom of Crimea, Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars,” he told leaders of Ukrainian Muslims and ambassadors of Muslim countries.

The Tatar community, which makes up between 12% and 15% of the Crimean peninsula’s two million inhabitants, widely boycotted a referendum organized by Moscow in 2014 on its annexation. In the following years, the Russian authorities banned and labeled as “extremist” the Mejlis, a traditional assembly of Crimea’s Muslim minority, and imprisoned members of the Tatar community.

“There is no other solution either for Ukraine or for the world, except for the de-occupation of Crimea. We will return to Crimea,” President Zelenskyy insisted before presenting awards to several Ukrainian military personnel of the Muslim faith.

“Ukraine is grateful to Muslims in our country”

Speaking at a mosque near Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced that Ukraine is starting a new tradition by holding an official iftar, a dinner that breaks the daily fast during the month of Ramadan.

“Ukraine is grateful to the Muslims of our country and to all representatives of the Muslim community around the world who, like us, seek peace and protection from evil,” he added.

Several Muslim-majority countries, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, have positioned themselves as mediators in the Ukrainian conflict, negotiating deals between Kiev and Moscow on grain exports or prisoner exchanges.

Russia has a significant Muslim minority in regions such as Chechnya and Dagestan, with contingents fighting alongside the Russian army in Ukraine.

  • Read also: Ukraine says that Russia refuses a full exchange of Muslim prisoners of war for Ramadan

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