Türkiye reinforces call for the return of occupied territories to Ukraine

Ankara has reiterated its commitment to Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and independence. 

Turkish presidential chief adviser Yalçın Topçu voiced the advocacy efforts to bring Russian-occupied territories back under Kyiv’s fold during an Oct. 9 meeting with the Crimean community. 

The statements were made to Nariman Dzhelyal, the deputy chairman of the Mejlis, an executive commission that serves the Crimean Tatar people, state-run Ukrinform news agency reports.

“Türkiye… asserts on all platforms that the return of occupied territories, including Crimea, is a requirement of international law,” Topçu said.

Ankara seeks to end the prolonged occupation and conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Lebanon, aiming to contribute to lasting peace in the region and worldwide for the future of humanity.

Dzhelyal briefed Topçu on the situation in occupied Crimea, highlighting the ongoing persecution of Crimean Tatars, human rights violations, and crimes committed by Russia on the peninsula.

Arbitrary “searches and detentions occur constantly,” he said. “Detainees are subjected to lengthy prison sentences in unsatisfactory and inhumane conditions.” 

The meeting also included representatives from the ZMİNA Human Rights Center, who expressed hope that Türkiye would facilitate the release of Crimean Tatars, prisoners of war, and civilian Ukrainians held by Russia.

The visit to Türkiye was Dzhelyal’s first since his release from Russian captivity in July.

In a related event, Ukrainians in Türkiye earlier this month organized a rally in Istanbul, calling for the release of Ukrainian soldiers from Russian captivity. The rally goers also called for an end to Russian aggression and appealed to supporters of Ukraine to disseminate accurate information about the war globally.