The Permanent Delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, The International Renaissance Foundation (IRF), The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, on the eve of the 20th anniversary of Ukraine's accession to the Council of Europe are pleased to announce the international event "Day of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea", that will be held on Sept. 30, 2015 within the premises of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. This event is planned with the participation of about 500 people, among them: members of national delegations in PACE, leaders of CE, heads of departments of the secretariat of the Council of Europe and PACE, judges of the ECHR and employees of the Secretariat of the ECHR, diplomats accredited to the Council of Europe, representatives of international governmental and non-governmental organizations and Ukrainian human rights activists, lawyers, who are prosecuting legal cases of human rights violations in Crimea, representatives of the Mejlis.

Illegal occupation of the AR of Crimea, the legal status of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea and their problems, coercion to acquire citizenship of Russian Federation, human rights violations in the occupied territory, political persecution, disappearances, kidnapping, torture and murders, raids in houses, mosques and schools; random systematic questioning, violence against women, arrests aimed at repression, extended periods of detention, the ban on holding peaceful gatherings, violation of the right to education and the use of native language, the violation of property rights and the pressure on the culture – all is currently taking place on the occupied Ukrainian territory and this information should be made public. Ukrainian citizens are grateful to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the international community for support and express the hope that this support will contribute to de-occupation of the Crimea.

With the purpose of demonstrating the real situation and informing the international community about the actual human rights situation in the occupied territory, the inter-ethnic event "Day of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea " is scheduled and will be composed of three events:

Round table discussion "Human rights in the occupied Crimea", devoted to the issues: political persecution in the occupied Crimea; violation of rights of the Crimean Tatar people, in fact – "latent deportation"; international mechanisms for protecting human rights in the occupied territory of Crimea and Sevastopol city.

Key speakers: Boris Zakharov, Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, Daria Sviridova, Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union, Roman Martynovsky, Regional Center for Human Rights, Sergei Zayats, Regional Centre for Human Rights, Gaiana Iuksel, Crimean Tatar Mejlis, Ryza Shevkiiiev , Crimean Tatar Mejlis, Georgii Lohvynskyi, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, Deputy Head of the Permanent Delegation to the PACE.

Location: PACE premises, Hall №3

Time: 13.00-14.00

Photo exhibition "Fighting through the years" with the presentation of photos of the Crimean photographer under the pseudonym BAYKUŞ. The uniqueness of this exhibition is that the audience will be presented photographs taken during the first mass protest in Moscow in 1987. In that year, hundreds of Crimean Tatars from various regions of the Soviet Union came to Moscow to declare their rights, and demanded the return of all people to their historical homeland. Author of photos, one of the participants of rallies in Moscow, is the closest relative of BAYKUŞ, that made possible to combine two periods in the life to one link – the link of memory and history. Contemporary photography will feature the works of BAYKUŞ, where one can track the living of Crimean Tatars after thay have returned to their homeland, that was so struggled. In addition, the exhibition will feature photographs taken during the events of 2014, when Crimean Tatars again have to scream about their rights and just survive in the circumstances.

Location: PACE Building, 5th floor.

Time: grand opening of the exhibition will take place on 30 September 2015 at 14.00. Photo exhibition will last until the end of the fourth session of the PACE.

"Crimean evening" – is a cultural and artistic show with participation of famous artists, as well as the opportunity to taste the best delicacies of Crimean Tatar chefs.

The event will be accompanied by musical works of various nationalities: Crimean Tatar, Jewish, Turkish, Azeri, Ukrainian, Roma and others. This evening for guests will play meter of Crimean Tatar music Cuicul Karikov – master of playing the saga, bahlami and other musical instruments, Marinita and Orhan Agabeyli – virtuoso duo whose creative work is based on combination of cultures of different nations with jazz and classical music and the famous Crimean accordionist Shevket Zmorka.

All musicians who will represent Ukraine at the "Crimean evening" are members of the  project "Art of Tolerance" – campaign against xenophobia, which aims to demonstrate and educate multicultural tolerance. Prominent Crimean Tatar painterand sculptor, Rustem Skybin, will present an exhibition of Crimean Tatar decorative art "Zincir. Links of Memory", with captivating story about the cultural traditions and semantics of the Crimean Tatar people.

Location: Restaurant CE ("Blue")

Time: 20.00-22.00

ATTENTION FOR MEDIA – for accreditation one should send an application to September 28, 2015 by email [email protected] , with organizational issues. For more information about the roundtable and cultural program, please contact Boris Zakharov – +380503014408, [email protected]