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Russian human rights ombudsperson to meet Crimean Tatars

Ella Pamfilova will meet representative of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol on Friday to "hear their wishes, proposals and concerns"
Crimean Tatars protesting the alleged ban for Mustafa Dzhemilev on entering Russia ITAR-TASS/Alexei Pavlishak
Crimean Tatars protesting the alleged ban for Mustafa Dzhemilev on entering Russia
© ITAR-TASS/Alexei Pavlishak

SIMFEROPOL, May 16. /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s Human Rights Ombudsperson Ella Pamfilova will meet representatives of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol on Friday.

“I want to hear their wishes, proposals and concerns,” Pamfilova told journalists.

Crimean Tatars are planning to organize an event on May 18, marked as a Day of Memory for the Crimean peoples deported from the peninsula, but Crimea’s acting Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov signed a decree that bans any events on the peninsula until June 6, 2014. The May 18 commemorations are also falling under this restriction.

“I am deeply convinced that bans are not the way to solve very complicated problems,” Pamfilova told journalists, noting that Russia had a law on rallies, marches and demonstrations. “All subordinate acts should strictly comply with that law. I hope it has not been violated,” the human rights ombudsperson said.

“It is necessary to establish contacts and find mutually acceptable solutions so that any events are organized in a civilized way and are safe for people. At the same time, no one should infringe on civil liberties and other rights,” Pamfilova said.

Crimean Tatars seem to be concerned with recent reports that Mustafa Dzhemilev, the so-called leader of Crimean Tatars, has allegedly been banned from entering Russia.

“I have already sent inquiries to all agencies, including the border service, asking them to explain whether any state body has made this decision,” Pamfilova stressed, noting Russia had a law allowing foreign nationals to move freely in the Russian territory.

“If I see any violations here, I am going to act in compliance with Russian laws and the Constitution,” the ombudsman said.