17 Apr 2014 11:13

Churkin dubs claims of alleged genocide fears of Crimean Tatars provocative

UNITED NATIONS. April 17 (Interfax) - Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin has dismissed as provocative the allegations that Crimean Tatars fear a new act of genocide.

"Claims of our Ukrainian colleagues that the Tatar population of Crimea is expecting a third genocide are lies and a provocation," Churkin said at a session of the UN Security Council.

The new Crimean constitution declares the official status of the Tatar language and assigns official positions for the Tatar community.