LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 70th Anniversary of the Crimean
Tatar Genocide on May 18, 2015

WHEREAS, This Resolution arises from a sense of human decency and
respect for the Crimean Tatar people and their history; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 70th Anniversary of the Crimean Tatar Genocide on Monday, May
18, 2015; and
WHEREAS, The history has recorded May 18, 1944, as one of its darkest
days, when the entire Crimean Tatar population, mostly women, children
and the elderly, was uprooted from their homes without any warning,
loaded on trucks in town centers and taken to the nearest train stations
to be deported to Central Asia, Urals, Siberia and other remote areas of
the then Soviet Union; and
WHEREAS, During this time, the majority of able-bodied Crimean Tatars
were fighting as members of Soviet Armed Forces to defend their Soviet
motherland; and
WHEREAS, More than 46 percent of the total number of Crimean Tatars
perished during this systematically planned mass deportation, which was
masterminded, planned and executed by Joseph Stalin; and
WHEREAS, The horror stories of this vicious crime against humanity are
well documented and a project is currently being launched by the Crimean
Tatar National Mejlis to collect stories of the victims; and
WHEREAS, Due to Russian invasion and occupation of Crimea in 2014, the
"Surgun" continues to this day, with countless human rights abuses and
restrictions being placed by Russian authorities upon Crimean Tatars;
and
WHEREAS, The national and human rights of Crimean Tatars are yet to be
fully restored 70 years after their mass deportation; the Crimean Tatars
continue to be severely discriminated against just as they were during
the Soviet era, and continue to wish for peace, prosperity and justice;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the anniversary of this
horrific event and urges all New Yorkers and the international community
as a whole to act with a sense of urgency in condemning such atrocities
and preventing crimes against humanity like this from ever happening
again; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Crimean Tatar Genocide on May
18, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Crimean Tatar National Mejlis.