If Russia is Allowed to Remain an Empire, it Won’t be Defeated – Ichkerian Leader

"The aggression against Ukraine has made Russia one of the most despised nations in history," stated Mustafa Dzhemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatar national movement, during the opening of a Conference in Kyiv on 27 May, which remembered the 105th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of the North Caucasus Peoples Union - the Republic of the Mountainous Republic.

Mustafa Dzhemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatar national movement. Photo by Aleksandra Klitina.

Participants in the conference discussed cooperation mechanisms between nations that had suffered crimes, including genocide, at the hands of Russia.

"If you leave Russia as an empire, it will be reborn after defeat. We have already heard, 'Take as much sovereignty as you want.' But it ended in the occupation of Ichkeria (Chechnya)" – stated Akhmed Zakayev, Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

"There can be either an empire or a democracy in Russia," Zakayev said, addressing Russian liberals. "If you want to establish a democratic regime, we are your friends. We are your blood enemies if you want to preserve an indivisible empire."

Crimean Tatar leaders and Ukrainian politicians expressed solidarity with the Chechen people in their struggle for independence and freedom from Russia.

"The guarantees of Russia's future lie in the freedom of the enslaved nations," said Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.

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Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. Photo by Aleksandra Klitina.

The Conference resulted in an appeal to the parliaments and leaders of UN member states to recognize the Chechen people as a nation fighting for its independence and a final resolution that will define coordination mechanisms and principles of action to overthrow Putin's regime.

Participants of the Conference: Mustafa Dzhemilev, leader of the Crimean Tatar national movement; Ruslan Kutayev, President of the Assembly of the Peoples of the Caucasus; Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Representatives of the Crimean Tatar People, Akhmed Zakayev, Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Iyad Yugar, Chairman of the International Circassian Council (USA), Akhmad Akhmedov, President of the All-Ukrainian Congress of Peoples of Dagestan, Oleh Dunda, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Hakan Jinaz, President of the Circassian Charitable Association (USA), Ilya Ponomarev, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Congress of People's Deputies of Russia, Mustafa Canbek, Secretary General of the United Circassia Council (Turkey), Fedir Venislavskyi, Member of the Ukrainian Parliament.