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"Today, 72 years on from the forcible deportation of the Crimean Tatars from their homeland, they again face persecution and intimidation," an EU Delegation statement on the 72nd anniversary of the deportation of Crimean Tatars reads.

"Their rights and fundamental freedoms were gravely attacked through the recent banning of the activities of the Mejlis, their self-governing body, and its labelling as 'an extremist organization' by the so-called Supreme Court of Crimea. Furthermore, recent reports of arrests of Crimean Tatar activists are of great concern," the statement reads.

Read alsoUN calls on Russia to respect Crimean Tatar rights on key anniversary"The EU has repeatedly expressed its deep concern at the deterioration of the human rights situation in Crimea and Sevastopol since the illegal annexation by the Russian Federation, and calls for full compliance with international human rights standards and other obligations under international law," it said.

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On May 18, Ukraine commemorates victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people. On this day in 1944, the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs, known as NKVD, began to expel the indigenous people of Crimea to Central Asia.

The occupying authorities of Crimea have banned mass memorial services for the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people, which were scheduled by the Mejlis for May 18.