The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev. The corresponding decree is published on the website of the head of state.
The title of Hero of Ukraine was awarded to the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, human rights defender and People’s Deputy of Ukraine “for his significant personal contribution to the establishment and development of the independent Ukrainian state, courage and dedication in defending the rights of the Crimean Tatar people, and many years of fruitful political and public activity.”
Mustafa Dzhemilev turned 80 today. I congratulated him, thanked him for protecting the freedom of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatar people, and awarded him the title of Hero of Ukraine.
“A strong, worthy, courageous person. A life devoted to the protection of the people’s will. I wished what we all wish: victory for Ukraine and freedom for all parts of our state. And we are doing everything to bring the liberation of Crimea closer,” Zelenskyi said during the presentation of the State Order to Dzhemilev.
The leader of the Crimean Tatar people said that it was an honor for him to receive the highest award, because after two years of full-scale war, it was awarded to soldiers who defended the freedom, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine at the cost of their lives.
Under these circumstances, this award means a lot to me. At the same time, this is a great moral support for our compatriots, who have been under occupation for the tenth year,” he noted.
Mustafa Dzhemilev is a political and public figure of Crimean Tatar origin, the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars from 1991 to 2013, and a former Soviet dissident.
On November 13, 2023, Mustafa Dzhemilev turned 80 years old.
