Turkish MFA issues statement on Russia's operations in Crimea

"We are concerned about the raids and detentions that took place in Crimea yesterday (February 17)," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

"We call for ending such practices against the Crimean Tatars, an integral part of the Crimean Peninsula.

"Turkey doesn't recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea and will continue to stand by the Crimean Tatars," the statement stressed.

Over the past two days, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has conducted counterterrorism operations in many Ukrainian regions, including the occupied Crimean peninsula. The detainees are accused of having links with a terrorist organization.

Following the peninsula occupation, the Crimean Tatar National Assembly was banned as an "extremist organization." Thus, more than 2,500 Tatars, who have direct contact with the Parliament, have become members of extremist organizations. Thousands of Tatars have left the peninsula.

The pressure on Crimean Tatars' homes, mosques, and orphanages and detention on suspicion of "membership in a terrorist organization" continue.

In 2019 alone, Russian security forces conducted 86 operations in homes, mosques, and schools of the Crimean Tatars. Thus, the forces detained 157 people, interrogated 194, and arrested 335 in these raids.

An absolute majority of UN members, including Azerbaijan, recognize Crimea as Ukrainian territory.