The Dutch House of Representatives voted on 19 June to recognize the 1944 Soviet deportation of Crimean Tatars as genocide, according to the parliament’s press service.

The motion stated that “various countries have recognized the mass expulsion of Crimean Tatars in 1944 by the Soviet Union as genocide.” The House declared the 1944 mass deportation of Crimean Tatars meets modern standards for genocide classification.

The parliamentary document also addressed contemporary persecution. Since Russia’s 2014 occupation of Crimea, “many Crimean Tatars have been unjustifiably imprisoned, subjected to torture by the Russian Federation, or have disappeared,” the motion noted. It concluded that “Russia has most likely continued the policy of genocide against Crimean Tatars.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha thanked the Dutch parliament for the decision. “This is a powerful gesture of solidarity with the Crimean Tatar people, who continue to face persecution during Russia’s temporary occupation of Ukrainian Crimea,” Sybiha wrote.

The minister identified the Netherlands as the seventh country to recognize the Crimean Tatar deportation as genocide and called on other nations to follow suit. “Recognition of this historical injustice is crucial not only for establishing truth and justice, but also for preventing future atrocities,” Sybiha said.

The 1944 deportation occurred after Soviet forces liberated Crimea from German occupation. Bolshevik authorities returning to the peninsula branded all Crimean Tatars living there as “traitors.” Stalin personally ordered the ethnic cleansing, which took place from 18-21 May 1944. Soviet forces removed over 190,000 Tatars from Crimean territory during this period, though some data indicates 430,000 were deported.

Ukraine’s parliament recognized the Crimean Tatar deportation as genocide on 12 November 2015, and established 18 May as the Day of Remembrance for Victims of the Genocide of the Crimean Tatar People.

Read also:

• Czech Senate unanimously recognizes deportation of Crimean Tatars as genocide
• Poland recognizes Russian deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944 as genocide
• Activists report mass repressions in Crimea against pro-Ukrainian supporters and Crimean Tatars