The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement today commemorating the anniversaries of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars and Circassians.

Ankara recalled the tragedy of the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars, when hundreds of thousands were forcibly removed from Crimea. The document emphasizes that many of the deportees died in exile and labor camps, while those who survived were unable to return to their historical homeland for many years.

"Crimean Tatars were forcibly torn from their homeland and sent into exile 82 years ago," the Turkish Foreign Ministry statement read.

The Turkish side also specifically addressed the current situation of the Crimean Tatars, linking their current difficulties to the annexation of the peninsula.

"The suffering of the Crimean Tatars, the indigenous people of Crimea, has been further exacerbated by the illegal annexation of the peninsula," the document notes.

Ankara stated that Turkey will continue to support the preservation of the national identity, language, and culture of the Crimean Tatar people, and to advocate for their security and well-being.

The statement places special emphasis on the memory of the victims of the Circassian expulsion of the 19th century. The Turkish Foreign Ministry recalled that May 21 marks the 162nd anniversary of the mass exodus of the peoples of the Caucasus following the end of the Caucasian War.

"The deportation of the Circassians remains in our memory as a great humanitarian tragedy, during which the peoples of the Caucasus were forced to leave their homeland under extremely difficult conditions," the text states.

Turkey expressed solidarity with the Crimean Tatars and the peoples of the Caucasus, honoring the memory of the victims.