Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People

Ten Ukrainian civilians held prisoner for years by Russia arrived in Kyiv overnight Saturday after the mediation of the Vatican, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

They were freed Friday. Some had been captured years before Russia's full-scale invasion . The pope has said the Holy See has been involved in past prisoner swaps during the Ukraine war.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reaffirmed Türkiye's stance against the annexation of Crimea by Russia and pledged solidarity with Ukraine's territorial integrity.

"We express in every platform, especially in the United Nations, that Crimea is a part of Ukraine," Erdoğan stated on Aug. 23, speaking via a video message to attendees of the Third Crimea Platform Summit in Kiev.

Ankara is closely following the detention of the Crimean Tatar National Assembly's deputy chairman by Russian forces with "concern," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Sept. 4.

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The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed "regret" over the Russian High Court's approval of a ban on the activities of the Crimean Tatar Parliament on Oct. 3. 
"The ministry regrets the High Court of Russia's approval after appeal of the ban," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tanju Bilgiç said on Oct. 3 in a written statement.

Turkey, the United States and the European Union have condemned an April 26 Crimean court decision to ban the Mejlis, the governing body of the Crimean Tatar community. 

Turkey has condemned a Crimean court decision to ban the Mejlis, the governing body of the Crimean Tatar community, calling it part of a continued campaign of "intimidation" and "suppression."

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]