QA-30, 17 September 2014, Statement of the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tanju Bilgiç in Response to a Question Regarding Turkey's Position with respect to the Local Elections Held in Crimea on 14 September 2014

Turkey does not recognize the illegal annexation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (ARC). Within this framework, the "elections" held on 14 September in ARC have no validity for Turkey.

On the other hand, we are deeply concerned about the recently growing pressures on the National Assembly of the Crimean Tatar People. We condemn such actions aiming to intimidate the Tatar people who are the indigenous population of Crimea and call for immediate end of these actions.