The Second Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform was held in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, on October 24
The event was opened with speeches by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk and Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic Marketa Pekarova Adamova
The opening ceremony was addressed by the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov, representatives of the Crimea Platform Expert Network Oleksandr Khara and Eskender Bariiev
In total, the Summit was attended by 66 representatives from 51 countries and 6 international organizations.
In particular, 9 countries were represented by two chambers of parliaments
Last year, 55 participants from 44 countries gathered in Zagreb for the First Parliamentary Summit
The expert dimension was represented by panel discussions organized by the Crimea Platform Expert Network
Leading international experts, politicians, and scholars discussed the main challenges caused by the occupation of Crimea and the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic Marketa Pekarova Adamova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Marian and Olga Skrypnyk, co-coordinator of the Crimea Platform Expert Network and Head of the Board of the Crimean Human Rights Group, delivered welcoming remarks during the discussion program.
During the first panel discussion on “The Inevitable Liberation of Crimea”, the participants assessed the likely consequences of the military liberation of Crimea and the impact of de-occupation on the Black Sea region. The speakers also considered what impact the weakening or destruction of the Russian Black Sea Fleet would have on the security of the Black Sea countries and Europe as a whole. The discussion included strategies for strengthening Ukraine’s military capabilities with the support of Western partners
Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine
First, Crimea is Ukraine. We were able to form a coalition that clearly realizes, recognizes and articulates that Ukraine should and can determine the path of de-occupation
We have a clear signal, and not only a signal, but it is being implemented in practice, that Ukraine will have support as long as it needs it. This includes military support and economic support
Viktor Kevliuk, retired colonel, expert at the Centre for Defence Strategies
Already today, we see steps being taken by NATO countries to conduct military demining surveillance operations and convoy escorts. This is a very good contribution
But we need to keep in mind that after a major defeat for Russia, we should not slide into complete isolation of this country. It is a reality – they will remain on the coast. And we need to do something about this factor
Carolyn Edgerton, Canadian lawyer, former trial prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
I think that one day the war will end in whatever way and the time after that is going to be incredibly complex for Ukraine but what is going to bring the country, the nation, society through that is going to be your rule of law which functions.
And that working effective justice is what is going to bring Ukraine to a brighter future ultimately.
Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress
I think the Crimean Platform is extremely important.
All the messages I heard today at the Crimea Platform are very important. Because we are already starting to think that de-occupation is real, that decolonization is real, and there is a specific plan to implement it.
Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the the Autonomous Republic of Crimea
The Crimea Platform is primarily a platform for joint actions for de-occupation. But it is very important for us, in the third year of the Crimean Platform’s existence, to talk about reintegration measures, in which we will involve our international partners. We want them to be involved both in the de-occupation and immediately afterwards in the restoration of our territory in economic, social and humanitarian terms.
Vladyslav Miroshnychenko, analyst at the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union
After Crimea is liberated and the expulsion of illegal Russian migrants who entered Crimea during the occupation takes place, there is a significant threat that we will violate all their rights on a very large scale. We cannot allow this, because we have to conduct this process in accordance with international law, with respect for the dignity of each person.
Dr. Gayana Yuksel, member of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Associate Professor at the Department of Journalism
We need to talk about Crimea in general and about the establishment of the rights of indigenous peoples, which are recognized by Ukraine and other countries. For example, such a document or act as the Recognition of the Deportation of the Crimean Tatar People and Other Peoples. Four countries have recognized it – Lithuania, Latvia, Canada, Ukraine – and we hope that this list will be extended.
A separate event was the art intervention “Making spaces” by the artist Alevtina Kakhidze, who created “living drawings”. She recreated the history of Crimea from ancient times, including the events of Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014 and the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people in 1944.
In addition, the Expert Network of the Crimean Platform together with the Czech NGO NESEHNUTI held a joint press conference for the Czech media on the consequences of the occupation of Crimea, a discussion at Charles University, and meetings with representatives of the Czech government and parliament.
Olga Skrypnyk, Chair of the Board of the Head of the Crimean Human Rights Group
A separate event of this Summit was the expert program of this discussion, organized by the Expert Network with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech RepublicCzech Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ukraine understands and is aware of the risks we may face after the de-occupation of Crimea, the inevitable de-occupation of Crimea. And we are already working to have a clear strategy to overcome all these challenges that lie ahead