“Today, we commemorate the 73rd anniversary of deportation of Crimean Tatars from their historic homeland – Crimea. We remember with compassion other ethnic groups of Crimea that faced this challenge: Germans, Greeks, Armenians, Bulgarians, Karaites and others. …Deportation is a crime without a statute of limitations and criminals who cold-bloodedly planned this act of genocide are not eligible for forgiveness. …

“In 2014, shortly before the 70th anniversary of [this] deportation, post-Soviet but still authoritarian Russia annexed Ukrainian Crimea. Thousands of Crimean Tatars were forced to leave their home again. Invaders do everything to squeeze the freedom-loving people out of their native land. Isn’t this a new undeclared, deviously hidden deportation? …

“The sacred right of Crimean Tatars to live freely on their native land will be restored – finally and irreversibly using all possible means and mechanisms approved in the civilized world. … Crimea is Ukraine, and Ukraine is Europe – part of the civilized world that values human dignity and the sovereign rights of nations.”

– Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko addressing the requiem meeting held on the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Genocide of the Crimean Tatar People, May 18.