FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE’S UNANIMOUS MOTION ON CRIMEAN TATAR GENOCIDE TABLED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS
June 19, 2019
On June 19, 2019 Michael Levitt, M.P., Chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, tabled the Motion to recognize the 1944 deportation of the Crimean Tatars by Stalin as a genocide, which passed unanimously in the Foreign Affairs Committee on June 13, 2019.
“I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the 31st report of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, entitled ‘Human Rights Situation in Russia’. Following the testimony of Mr. Mustafa Dzhemilev, the committee supports recognizing the Crimean Tatar deportation of 1944 as a genocide and designating May 18 a day of remembrance for the Crimean Tatar deportation,” stated Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael Levitt, M.P.
Etobicoke Centre M.P. Borys Wrzesnewskyj tabled the “Notice of Motion” in the Foreign Affairs Committee on Monday, June 10 following the testimony provided to the Committee by iconic Crimean Tatar leader and Soviet Gulag survivor Mustafa Dzhemilev and twice poisoned journalist and Russian democratic opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza.
The Motion Wrzesnewskyj moved, was debated on Thursday, June 13 and passed unanimously in the Foreign Affairs Committee. It reads:
“That pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), and based upon the witness testimony of Mr. Mustafa Dzhemilev on May 16, 2019, and of Mr. Vladimir Kara-Murza on June 10, 2019, the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development immediately report to the House the following: that in support of the historic truth and as requested by Mustafa Dzhemilev, the Crimean Tatar deportation of 1944 be recognized as a genocide perpetrated by Soviet dictator Stalin, and that May 18 be designated a day of remembrance for the Crimean Tatar deportation (Sürgünlik).”
“I would like to thank colleagues from all parties in the House of Commons who have supported the recognition of the Crimean Tatar genocide (Sürgünlik). It is my genuine hope and expectation that the next Government will recognize the Crimean Tatar deportation of 1944 as a genocide and designate May 18 a day of remembrance for the Crimean Tatar deportation according to the unanimously passed motion officially tabled in the House of Commons on the second to last sitting day of the 42nd Parliament,” concluded Wrzesnewskyj.
For further information contactBorys Wrzesnewskyj, M.P. (613) 947-5000
