The 80th Anniversary of the Deportation of the Crimean Tatars Remembered and the Launching Event of the Crimean Tatar Youth Workshop Held

A launching event for a Workshop was hosted by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) in cooperation with the Association of Culture and Solidarity with the Crimean Turks.

The event was attended by Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara Vasyl Bodnar, Lithuanian Ambassador to Ankara Ricardas Degutis, YTB President Abdullah Eren, the Head of the Association of Culture and Solidarity with the Crimean Turks Mükremin Şahin, Crimean Tatar Youth Representative Samet Cengiz and many other guests. The event was kicked off by the National Anthem and a moment of silence at the Presidency, and prayers were read out for those who lost their lives in exile.

Taking the floor at the outset of the event, YTB President Abdullah Eren said that they gathered to remember the Crimean Tatar community's struggle to survive and stand on their feet in the aftermath of the exile. Mr. Eren noted that 1944, the year of the exile, was a dark and painful year, and added: "There is a whole community that went through exile in the most painful way imaginable and despite this large-scale exile that they were subjected to, they managed to stand on their feet, to remain united, and to keep the Crimean Tatar community alive, as we see them join us here today."

Striving to Ensure Crimean Tatars Are United

Attaching capital importance to the workshop, Mr. Eren said that the youth do not let the exile sink into oblivion as they safeguard their national and immaterial values. Mr. Eren, who stated that the youth also strive to achieve a united front and said: “We attach great importance to this because our youth play a key role in bringing the sense of being a nation and our culture to the future. Our youth will strive to establish a united front with the Crimean Tatars wherever they are around the world, looking out for their national and immaterial values and making sure the exile is not forgotten about.”  

Crimean Tatars are an Integral Part of Lithuanian Society

Taking the floor during the event, Lithuanian Ambassador to Ankara Degutis noted that Crimean Tatars and Lithuanian people have co-existed for years and said: “Crimean Tatars have become an integral part of Lithuanian society. Crimean Tatars have offered significant inputs for the development of Lithuania and its community, and their inputs have become especially prominent over the past 50 years.”

In his address, Ukrainian Ambassador to Ankara Vasyl Bodnar noted that joint efforts should be made to preserve the Crimean Tatar language, identity, traditions and religion and to make them familiar and popular around the world.

 Bodnar said the history of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples are intertwined, adding: "We have survived famine, genocide, oppression and many challenges caused by the same source. Maybe it was not perfect, but at least we co-existed in peace, helping out each other."

Tens of Thousands of People Died in the Exile Routes and Lands

Şahin, the Head of the Association of Culture and Solidarity with the Crimean Turks, also recalled that hundreds of thousands of people from the Crimean Tatar community were exiled, without distinction between the sick, women, or children, on May 18, 1944. Şahin noted that the Crimean Tatars lost half of their population as a result of the exile, and said: “Tens of thousands of people died in the exile routes and lands”

Crimean Tatar Youth Representative Cengiz also emphasized that the World Crimean Tatar Youth Congress is set to be organized in partnership with YTB and that it would be extremely useful for the cause. Cengiz added that they will work on goals such as focusing on the universal cooperation of Crimean Tatar youth and improving the living conditions of the Crimean Tatar people as part of the event.

The event went on with an “Exile” show and poetry recital by the students of the Crimean Family School. The Crimean Tatar Culture and Art Exhibition was also visited as part of the occasion.