Unity or diversity of thoughts?

On May 18, 2019, Canadian Foreign Minister, Chrystia Freeland, issued a statement commemorating the anniversary of the 1944 deportation of Crimean Tatars from Crimea by Soviet authorities.

In her statement, the Minister noted her deep concerns over the existing human rights violations on the Crimean Peninsula, including alleged “mistreatment of the Crimean Tatar people and the destruction of their historic sites.” She called on Russia to reinstate the banned self-governing body of Crimean Tatars in rights. In addition, Chrystia Freeland reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to work closely with the Crimean Tatar community to protect their freedoms. In turn, Canada warned Russia that the policy of economic pressure in a form of sanctions would continue until it was necessary to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. And a recent executive order to grant Russian citizenship for Ukrainians from Donetsk and Lugansk regions signed by Vladimir Putin is seen as a factor destabilizing the situation on the ground.

On May 16, 2019, the Canadian MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj addressed the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament to recognize May 18 as the Crimean Tatar Genocide Memorial Day. As reported by Hromadske citing the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada, the resolution was not accepted to vote on due to strong opposition.