Earlier today, delivering the good news to iconic Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev (in Kyiv) by telephone from Ottawa. See my news release below:
Foreign Affairs Committee Passes MP Wrzesnewskyj’s Crimean Tatar Genocide Motion
Ottawa – Today, Canada’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs & International Development passed a motion introduced by Etobicoke Centre MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj to recognize the 1944 deportations of the Crimean Tatars by Stalin as genocide.
Despite the efforts of several Conservative MPs to filibuster the motion in the Foreign Affairs Committee in the hopes of running out the clock, Wrzesnewskyj’s perseverance and persistence finally paid off, and in the end the motion passed unanimously.
“In this 75th memorial year of the 1944 Crimean Tatar Genocide (Sürgünlik), I would like to thank all the members serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee for realizing the importance of recognizing the Crimean Tatar Genocide and passing my motion unanimously in Committee,” said Wrzesnewskyj. “I would also like to thank Chair Michael Levitt MP who expertly prevented the filibustering of this motion before the clock ran out.”
The motion Wrzesnewskyj introduced in the Foreign Affairs Committee 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).”
On May 16, 2019, the iconic Mustafa Dzhemilev appeared before Canada’s Foreign Affairs Committee and had urged the passing of Mr. Wrzesnewskyj’s Motion-214 “Crimean Tatar Sürgünlik.” He spoke of the great significance for all Crimean Tatars for Canada to formally recognize the Sürgünlik as genocide and to establish a Memorial Day. The Crimean Tatar delegation briefed members of the Foreign Affairs Committee on this historical genocidal crime and the Kremlin’s current methodical ethnocide of the Crimean Tatars in illegally-annexed Crimea.
It was deeply unfortunate that on the same day Mr. Dzhemilev appeared before the committee, and after his presence was acknowledged in the House of Commons, when Mr. Wrzesnewskyj sought unanimous consent to pass Motion M-214 on the Crimean Tatar Genocide (Sürgünlik), Conservative MPs blocked Mr. Wrzesnewskyj from even being allowed to read his motion and seek its passage.
On June 10, 2019, Russian pro-democracy opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza testified before the Foreign Affairs Committee about the worsening human rights situation in Russia and increasing numbers of political prisoners incarcerated by the Putin regime.
MP Wrzesnewskyj used the opportunity to put a question to Mr. Kara-Murza about the plight of the Crimean Tatars and whether he would support a finding of genocide regarding the Sürgünlik.
“I think it would be very important to make such a recognition,” answered Kara-Murza.
This provided Mr. Wrzesnewskyj with the opportunity to give “Notice of Motion” on the matter. After the 48-hour wait period, this motion was moved, debated, and passed.
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