LOC16:13
13:13 GMT
BRUSSELS, May 18 (KUNA) -- The EU Monday condemned the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, which took place 71 years ago today, as "a tragic watershed in their history."
"On this anniversary it is sad to observe that a public commemoration in Simferopol has been prohibited. This is but the most recent example of the restrictions and intimidation faced by the Crimean Tatars," said Catherine Ray, spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini in a statement.
She noted that the EU has consistently reiterated its concern about the deterioration of the human rights situation since the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, including as regards the rights of persons belonging to minorities.
International human rights actors must be provided with full, free and unrestricted access to the whole territory of Ukraine, including Crimea and Sevastopol, added the statement. (end)
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