The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Recognized at the UN Level.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people has gained representative status at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues held in New York. This was reported by the head of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Eskender Bariyev.

'For the first Time, thanks to our active preliminary work at the XXIV Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people is represented not as an organization of an indigenous people, but as the Parliament of an indigenous people (representative body),' noted a member of the Mejlis.

Eskender Bariyev noted that representatives of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people will now have seats alongside representatives of parliaments of other indigenous peoples, such as the Sámi of Norway, Sweden, and Finland.

'We expect an adequate response from Ukraine; it is high time for the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to comply with Ukrainian legislation, including the Law of Ukraine 'On Indigenous Peoples of Ukraine,' initiated by the President of Ukraine - Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky, and to establish the legal status of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people as the representative body of the indigenous people,' he added.

The 24th Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the UN headquarters in New York began on April 21.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people has gained representative status at the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York, reported the head of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Eskender Bariyev. According to him, this is the first time that the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people is represented not just as an organization of an indigenous people, but as the Parliament of an indigenous nation. This became possible due to active preliminary work at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Representatives of the Mejlis will have seats for indigenous parliamentarians alongside representatives of parliaments from other indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, the head of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center expects an adequate response from Ukraine and calls on the Cabinet of Ministers to comply with Ukrainian legislation and establish the legal status of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people as the representative body of the indigenous people.