Friends!

Yesterday in Parliament of Ukraine was celebrated the Day of the Crimea. The event was supported by the leader of the Crimean Tatar Mustafa Dzhemilev, deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and Interethnic Relations George Lohvynsky and Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union. Three years have passed since the beginning of the annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula. This date cannot be forgot and ignored.

We have no moral right to forget about the Ukrainians, who stayed on the peninsula. I absolutely agree with the leader of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar Refat Chubarov, who said: "Perhaps not all of us fully understand that hope and attention of hundreds and hundreds of thousands of citizens of Ukraine, who still live in the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea, who are watching all our actions, catching our every word. Let's be honest: we all owe them, these citizens who retain their dignity and loyalty to Ukraine. " Sometimes especially important details are erased in the memory. But three years ago, 15000 pro-Ukrainian Crimeans came to the rally to say "no» to the branch of peninsula from Ukraine. People defended their position, now some of them are prosecuted by the Russian authorities. 22 Crimean Tatars have disappeared or have been kidnapped, including 4, who were found dead, said Refat Chubarov. On the sidelines of the parliament held a photo exhibition "Fighting through the years" of Crimean artist Baykus There were portraits of Crimean political prisoners, activists, who are dead or missing. These photos are incredibly painful.

At the event I met a couple – Shefked and Aishe Yuzbashevy. They, like thousands of others in Crimeans were forced to leave the peninsula after the occupation, leaving their home and favorite thing - their cafe. They moved to Lviv, where started all over again. They feel the support of the people bit still miss the Crimea.

Friends, de-occupation of the Crimea is a difficult process. But we simply cannot throw in the towel. Peninsula is Ukrainian, and Ukrainians live there, and we cannot leave them. These people should receive our support. I believe that one day everything will return into its place. The main thing that this belief should be common and reinforced by the actions.