Islam in Ukraine

Ukraine has stepped up to establish a troop of Muslims, leader of Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Abdülcemil K?r?mo?lu, said on Aug. 3.

The troops will be deployed in the Kherson region on the Crimean border and would monitor transportation of goods and people between Ukraine and the peninsula, he said speaking at a congress. 

Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Warsaw during Poland’s celebration marking the 25th anniversary of the end of Communism on May 4.
      

Ukraine's embassy on Thursday commemorated 70 years since the deportation of Crimean Tatars and 153 years since national poet Taras Shevchenko was re-buried in the Ukrainian land.

Mustafa Dzhemilev, the leader of Crimean Tatars, has been refused entry into Russia, Crimea included.

Russian authorities have imposed a ban on Dzhemilev, who is an MP from Prime Minister Yatsenyuk and presidential candidate Tymoshenko's Batkivshchina, until 2019, RBC Daily has reported, citing the Mejlis (the Tatar assembly).

Concerns for Crimean Tatars increase

After boycotting the referendum, Crimean Tatars became open targets for the local militia and Russia as well, experts warn.

Demonstrators hold a combination Ukrainian-Crimean-Tatar flag during a rally at Independence Square in Kiev on March 23rd. [AFP]

Turkey will close the Bosphorus for Russian ships, if there is violence against the Crimean Tatars, said Turkish prime minister Recep Erdogan. 

Ex-Ukraine minister says Crimea nears 'point of no return'

NATO and the European Union say that the vote in Crimea will not be recognised.

A man is searched as armed militiamen secure the area near the Crimean parliament building in central Simferopol on Monday (March 17th). [AFP]

The Russian Parliament is expected to pass legislation in the coming days regarding Crimea’s accession into its federation.

On Sunday, over 96% of Crimeans voted in favor of splitting from Ukraine, in a referendum, which was not internationally recognized.