On May 18 Ukraine marks the 73rd anniversary of deportation of Crimean Tatars.

Since Ukraine's independence, the Government of Ukraine assumed responsibility for ensuring rights and freedoms of all Ukrainians, including those returning to Ukraine after deportation. Declaration of Rights of Nationalities of Ukraine, Laws "On Minorities in Ukraine", "On Restoration of Rights of Persons Deported on Ethnic Grounds" are key Ukrainian legal acts on protecting the rights of deported people. Government of Ukraine adopted following programs on social adaptation of Crimean Tatars: "Programme on promotion social adaptation of Crimean Tatar youth in 2002-2005" (2002), "Programme on resettlement of deported Crimean Tatars and other nationalities, who returned to Ukraine for residence, their adaptation and integration into Ukrainian society for the period until 2010" (2006, extended until 2015).

In February-March, 2014 Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula lead to significant violations of international law and human rights. Crimean Tatars suffered harassment and persecution by Russian occupation authorities and their proxies. As of today, 21 representatives of Crimean Tatars were kidnapped, three of them found dead, more than 130 criminal cases against Crimean Tatars were opened.

Ukrainian authorities take numerous measures to protect the rights and freedoms of Crimean Tatars. Mr.Mustafa Jemilev, MP and former Head of the Mejilis of the Crimean Tatar nation, was appointed as the President's representative on Crimean Tatars. On March 30, 2014 the Parliament of Ukraine passed a decree "On Acknowledging Crimean Tatars as Indigenous People of Ukraine", special department on the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol was established within the Secretariat of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and inter-party "Crimea" union was established by MPs.

UN, OSCE ODIHR, Council of Europe and other international organizations draw attention to numerous cases when Ukrainian locals, especially Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian activists, were kidnapped, tortured, imprisoned by Russian occupation authorities.

The responsibility for all violations of human rights in Crimea rests with the Russian Federation as an occupying authority under international law. For more details http://mfa.gov.ua/en/news-feeds/foreign-offices-news/57278-tragichna-storinka-v-istoriji-krimsykotatarsykogo-narodu