MOSCOW, October 16 (RIA Novosti) - Authorities in Russia’s newest republic of Crimea are not re-settling the self-styled parliament of the ethnic Tatar population, the region’s head said at a press conference Thursday refuting the reports of ethnic Tatars vanishing.
“We are maintaining a constructive dialogue with all Crimean Tatars… All information [about their vanishing or being resettled] does not match the reality. The Majlis [Tatars’ executive and representative body] is not being resettled,” Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov told journalists.
Speaking at a press conference on the region’s social and economic development, the newly-elected Crimean leader said that reports claiming ethnic Tatars had been vanishing in the republic since its re-unification with Russia were exaggerated.
“We have registered cases of missing Slavic people too,” he said.
Sergei Aksyonov stressed the government in the republic was doing everything in its powers to integrate and accommodate Crimean Tatars, including giving their religious holidays the status of regional holidays.
“We are doing everything possible to help Tatars integrate into the Russian legislative life, giving them an opportunity to re-adjust themselves,” the Crimean prime minister assured reporters.
The Republic of Crimea became part of Russia following a referendum on March 16. Almost 97 percent of the population voted to break away from Ukraine and rejoin Russia.
