Babin: the Key point – the participation of the Crimean Tatars in addressing this issue

Photo: Borys Babin / Facebook

To grant Crimea the status of national-territorial autonomy within Ukraine well need to consider changes to the country’s Constitution, said in comments to the edition “GORDON” the representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Borys Babin.

“In a special working group that deals with this issue, created subgroups. It includes the representatives of the Crimean Tatar people, Majlis, the public and scientists. And that in these groups there is a discussion of the draft amendments to the Constitution. Key point – the participation of the Crimean Tatars in addressing this issue. Without their participation to develop changes to the Constitution impossible. Now we are waiting for the text that will approve scientists. Creating Crimean Tatar autonomy – is a real goal. Unless, of course, work arrangements,” said Babin.

According to him, the full work autonomy can only after de-occupation of the Ukrainian Peninsula.

“Obviously, to earn this autonomy can after the de-occupation of Crimea. But today we already have working papers. In particular, the immediate plan of action to counter Russian aggression in the Crimea and the strategy of reintegration of the Peninsula. The Commission’s decision yet. There can be several options. You need to understand that this is a legal document in which each comma. It’s the Constitution and not a decree. So we are waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Commission. And before its acceptance it is impossible to discuss legal aspects”, – summed up Babin.

In may 2016 the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has initiated the establishment of a working group within the Constitutional Commission for drafting amendments to the Constitution relating to the rights of the Crimean Tatars to self-determination.

“Though we are late, but realized the necessity of creating in the Crimea of national autonomy of the Crimean Tatars with full guarantee of equal rights and freedoms of ethnic Ukrainians, Russians and other ethnic groups of the Peninsula,” he said.

In November of 2017 ended the training of the relevant constitutional amendments.

In March 2018 the Chairman of the Mejlis, MP from the bloc of Petro Poroshenko Refat Chubarov said that “it would be ideal” to accept changes to the eighth and ninth sessions of the Verkhovna Rada.

According to the Vice-President of the world Congress of Crimean Tatars, Director General of the TV channel ATR Lenur Islyamov, if the Parliament will not support amendments to the Constitution on the status of Crimea, the Crimean Tatars will require “independence”.

Crimea was annexed by Russia after the illegal referendum on 16 March 2014. The annexation of Crimea by Russia is not recognised by Ukraine and most countries of the world.

The activities of the Mejlis in the Crimea was denied by the Russian authorities in April 2016.