Erdogan promises to protect Crimean Tatars

Türkiye never recognizes Crimea Russian and will protect the rights of the Crimean Tatars, said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kyiv at a joint press conference with Ukrainian colleague Peter Poroshenko. “We did not recognize and do not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea. We are very pleased with the support that Ukraine provides for the Crimean Tatars, which proved fidelity to its country,” the Turkish leader quotes .

“I once again assured Mr. Poroshenko that Türkiye would continue to support the sovereignty of Ukraine, its territorial integrity, including Crimea, and political consolidation,” added Erdogan. However, he did not answer the question of whether his country was ready to join the sanctions against Moscow.

The Turkish President promised to monitor the situation with the rights of the Crimean Tatars on the peninsula and raise this issue at the international level. “We are now trying to take any measures against our brothers of the Crimean Tatars, which are imprisoned, and I think that over time we will get the result of these efforts,” Erdogan emphasized.

In turn, Poroshenko suggested Erdogan to include Turkey in the international "group of friends of the de -knowledge of Crimea."

After the annexation of Crimea, Türkiye has repeatedly been in support of the Crimean Tatars. After a sharp exacerbation of Russian-Turkish relations in connection with the death of the Su-24 bomber, Erdogan took an even more stringent position on the "Crimean issue". At the end of December 2015, it was reported that Turkey put uniforms for the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion formed in Ukraine.

However, even after improving relations with Russia, in August last year, Erdogan, in a telephone conversation with Poroshenko, said that Turkey’s position to support independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine in its international recognized boundaries remains unchanged.

In February, the head of the Turkish Foreign Ministry, Mevlut Chavushoglu, once again announced the non -recognition of the annexation of Crimea . "In no case we do not recognize the annexation of Crimea. In addition, we want clashes in eastern Ukraine as soon as possible," the minister said. The official also promised to defend the rights of the Crimean Tatars.