Following an almost three-year arrest, Ahtem Çiygöz, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, was sentenced on 11 September 2017 to eight years of imprisonment by the so-called court of the de-facto administration in Crimea.

This verdict constitutes another suffering for the Crimean Tatars who express their concerns on the developments in Crimea by peaceful means.

Re-emphasizing the importance we attach to protection of the rights and interests of our Crimean Tatar kinsmen, we express our hope that the verdict on Mr. Çiygöz will be reviewed and that he will be released.