News

On 18 April, the  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, met with the leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov.

The meeting discussed human rights violations and the difficult situation of the local Tatars in Russian-occupied Crimea.

The head of Lithuania’s diplomacy emphasized that Lithuania's foreign and security policy is based on the principle of non-recognition of the occupation of Crimea and full support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is enshrined in the resolution of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania of 8 May 2025, declaring it will not recognise Russia's claims to seized Ukrainian territories.

According to the Minister, Lithuania supports and will continue to support all international efforts to hold Russia and its accomplices to account for their crimes and to ensure justice.

"Lithuania will never recognize Crimea, Sevastopol, or other occupied Ukrainian territories as part of Russia – neither de jure nor de facto. The illegal occupation of Crimea, the persecution of Crimean Tatars, and deportations remind us of our own painfully experienced Soviet occupation. There can be no 'new normal' or 'realpolitik.' European borders cannot be redrawn by force," said Budrys.

According to the Minister, international 'silence' regarding the occupation of Crimea is unacceptable, and defending the principles of the United Nations Charter is the duty of all UN members. Lithuania seeks to strengthen the International Crimea Platform by involving as many countries and international organizations as possible and is ready to contribute to the planned parliamentary dimension summit of this platform in Vilnius.

The meeting also discussed the planned Crimean Tatar congress in Vilnius this autumn.

The Mejlis is the highest self-governing body of the Crimean Tatar people, having official legal status at the state level in Ukraine and representing the Crimean Tatars politically and socially on the international stage.