On the 12th anniversary of Crimea's accession to the Russian Federation, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming its non-recognition of the peninsula as a Russian entity.
The statement notes that Turkey considers the situation that has developed following the "illegitimate referendum" to be contrary to international law. The country also stated its intention to continue monitoring the situation in Crimea, particularly the situation of the Crimean Tatars.
"We strongly support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Turkey will continue to monitor the situation on the peninsula and keep this issue on its agenda, paying particular attention to the situation of the Crimean Tatars," Ankara noted.
Previously, Russian human rights activists have repeatedly noted that the mass criminal prosecution of Crimean Tatars is linked to their civic stance and protests against repression in Crimea.
