Emine Dzhaparova: Providing the possibility to realize the rights of the Crimean Tatar people to self-determination is a democracy test for Ukraine

A press conference dedicated to the presentation of Kherson region, and also to the information security of the region was held at news agency "Ukrinform" on Monday, August 8.

During the event, First Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova said: "The Crimean Tatar factor is the "trump card", which the invaders use almost every day through their agents of influence in Kherson region. The myth that the Crimean Tatars are going to create a national autonomy on the territory of Kherson region is quite popular in the information space. This is not true. Today the only official voice of the Crimean Tatar nation is the representative body of self-government Mejlis, which works in Kyiv. Refat Chubarov and Mustafa Dzhemilev and members of Mejlis of the central body as well as the local representation in Kherson region, have stressed for numerous times that this is just a myth", explained the First Deputy Minister.

However, Dzhaparova noted that the Crimean Tatars will continue to defend their inalienable right to self-determination on the territory of Crimea as part of a united Ukrainian state. "Providing the possibility to realize the rights of the Crimean Tatar people to self-determination is a democracy test for Ukraine", concluded Emine Dzhaparova.

In turn, Chairman of Kherson regional state administration Andrii Hordeev said that the Russian government wants to "drive a wedge" between the Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians by spreading false information about ethnic conflicts between the Crimean Tatar and the Ukrainian peoples and of creating a Crimean Tatar autonomy on the territory of Kherson region.

People's Deputy of Ukraine Serhii Hlan said that Kherson region has protected boundaries and ensured high level of defensive capacity, which, in fact, contributes to the successful development of the region.

Participants of the press conference were: Andrii Hordeev, Chairman of Kherson regional state administration, Serhii Hlan, an MP of Ukraine; Emine Dzhaparova, First Deputy Minister of Information Policy of Ukraine.