Crimean leader visiting Canada urges strong sanctions against Russia

A longtime activist in eastern Europe, repeatedly jailed for political dissentin the former Soviet Union, urgedthe Liberalgovernment on Wednesdayto live up toits promises andpasslegislationtopunish Russiansdefying human rights.

MustafaDzhemilev, the leader ofCrimean Tatars, delivered the message to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and senior members of the Liberalcabinet,including International Trade MinisterChrystiaFreeland, who has been a high-profile advocate forUkraine.

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The Tatars, a largely Sunni Muslim ethnic group, have faced increasing persecution since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in the springof 2014. Both Amnesty International and most recently a spokesman for the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights criticized their treatment at the hands of government officials.

"Human dignity is constantly being violated," Dzhemilev told CBC News in an interview through a translator, prior to testimony before the Senate foreign affairs committee on Wednesday.

"If Western countries decide to re-establish relationships with Russia and become friendsagain, it is a disaster fortheentire Crimean Tartar people."

Liberals shift approach

Dzhemilev's remarksare likely to deepen divisions within the governmentcaucus overForeign Affairs MinisterStphaneDion'srefusalto honoura Liberal campaign pledge to enact legislation tofreezeassets and banvisas of Russians accused of involvementinhumanrights violations.

Last year, the House of Commons unanimously passed a motion calling for such a measure, but Dion recently told Parliament he doesn't feel obligated to do so.Hehas resisted public and private pleas from high-profile Liberalsto change his mind.

Conservative MP James Bezanhas put forward a private member's bill modelled onthe U.S. Magnitsky Act, named for a corruption-fighting Russian lawyerwho died at the hands of authorities. Conservative Senator Raynell Andreychukalsointroduced the samebill in the Senate.

Until the occupation of our land is over, we cannot make any deals.-MustafaDzhemilev, CrimeanTatar leader and human right activist

It's been suggested such legislation has the potential to harm Canadian business interests and provoke Russia, which treated the introduction of the U.S. law in 2012 as a major slight.

Dzhemilev, who is also a member of the Ukrainian parliament,said his people are concerned that Canada is softening its opposition to the annexation.

He testifiedhe can't understand how anyone could start a dialogue with "a gangster," referring to Russian President VladimirPutin.

"Until the occupation of our land is over, we cannot make any deals," he said.

On Thursday, aspokesman for the Russian Embassy in Ottawa described Dzhemilev's comments as "deceitful," and claimed Tatarsin Crimeaenjoy "full constitutional rights and protections," as well as language rights.

Kirill Kalinin, in a statement, said that past injustices are being remedied, a reference to the 1940s deportation of the Tatar population.

Moscow considersDzhemilev's organization the Mejlisto be an "extremist group" and Kalininaccused it oforganizing the recent energy, food and transport blockade of Crimea.

No military solution

IndependentSenatorMichelRivardsaid theRussians will not beleavingany time soonand wanted to know short of all-outofwarwhat could be done.

Despite the harsh tone, Dzhemilev said he doesn't seea military solution to the stalemate ineastern Ukraine.

Only throughsanctions that bring the Russian economy toits knees will the region be "liberated," he said.

"We would want [Canada]to maintain a civilized discussion with Russia, but it depends on which conditions and under what circumstances," he said.

Dzhemilev encouraged the Liberal governmentto create a new international platform to discuss peace in Ukraine because the existingMinsk II agreement brokered by Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germanymade no reference toCrimea and is therefore flawed.

He raised it with Freeland, who "promised this question would be discussed."

As many as 10,000 Tatars have fled Crimea for parts of Ukraine, andDzhemilev appealedfor specific Canadian aid to help the displaced and to keep the ethnic community's television channel, which was forced to relocateto Kyiv, on the air.

Nuclear regrets

Two years ago, Dzhemilevadvocated that Ukraine reacquirenuclear weapons given up in 1994, when Russia, Great Britainand the U.S. signed theBudapest Memorandum. Thatagreement guaranteed the territorial integrity of Ukraine in exchange for the country's acceptance oftheNuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

He conceded Wednesday that it was likely impossible for the country to go nuclear again, but said there is lingering bitterness in light of the continuing war.

"We had a huge nuclear potential and could have destroyed Russia," he said."If we would have had that potential I don't think Russia wouldhave occupied Crimea."

And when countries start talk about lifting sanctions or softening their approachto Russia, Dzhemilev said"at moments like that we feel betrayed."

Andreychuk said she understood his concerns.