Celebrating Indigenous Peoples: Honoring Crimean Tatars in Odessa
On August 9, the International Day of Indigenous Peoples is celebrated worldwide. In Ukraine, the indigenous peoples include Crimean Tatars, Karaites, and Krymchaks - ethnic groups with distinct cultures and languages that lack their own state outside of Ukraine.
On this occasion, the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, visited Odessa, home to a significant Crimean Tatar diaspora.
During the meeting, crucial issues regarding the rights of indigenous peoples were discussed, particularly the Crimean Tatars, who have faced systemic oppression since 2014 in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Gennadiy Trukhanov emphasized that Odessa supports initiatives aimed at preserving the identity and rights of all nationalities living in our city, including the Crimean Tatars.
Special attention was given to the initiative of Crimean Tatars in Odessa to beautify a green area named after Noman Çelebicihan, a prominent Crimean Tatar figure.
“Odessa has always been a city where different cultures not only coexist but enrich each other. The improved park named after Noman Çelebicihan will serve as a sign of respect for the Crimean Tatar people, their history, and their struggle for freedom,” emphasized Gennadiy Trukhanov.
