Turkish President Honors Crimean Tatar Leader

Turkey's President honored Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Abdulzhemil Kirimoglu with the "Republic Medal of State" at a ceremony in Ankara on Tuesday. 



Abdullah Gul said Kirimoglu's life is a "brief summary of Crimean people's suffering."



"Since Kirimoglu's aim is blessed and determination is constant, the suffering got it's return," Gul added. "Crimean people proved to the world that they cannot be just thrown away from their homeland."



 Kirimoglu is considered to be the leader of the Crimean Tatar National Movement. 



He was six months old when his family and he were among the Crimean Tatars forced by the Soviety authorities into exile in Uzbekistan in 1944. 



In May 1989, 250,000 Tatars returned to Crimea under Kirimoglu's guidance and he was elected to head the newly founded Crimean Tatar National Movement.



Gul said the "Republic Medal of State" is the highest honour given to Heads of State and the Crimean 'struggle for freedom' would be marked in history books.



After receiving the state medal at Cankaya Palace, Kirimoglu thanked Turkey for not staying 'impartial'.



He accused Russia of taking advantage of Ukraine's current political situation to occupy Crimean soil.



The ceremony was attended by First Lady Hayrunnisa Gul, Kirimoglu's wife Safinar Dzhemileva, deputy prime ministers Bulent Arinc and Emrullah Isler, Crimean Tatar National Assembly President Rifat Chubarov, Ukrainian Presidential candidate Petro Poroshenko, diplomatic mission chiefs and historians.



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