Zelensky warns that Crimea is experiencing an "ethnic and religious purge" at the hands of Russia

MADRID, 25 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky warned on Tuesday that the Crimean peninsula is "the only area in Europe where an ethnic and religious purge takes place" and has accused Russian forces of "committing thousands of crimes" in the region. annexed in 2014.

"Crimea has made it impossible to develop a normal life. The occupation forces have not only committed thousands of crimes in the territory of Crimea, but since 2014 it is the only area where de facto ethnic cleansing takes place in all of Europe," has asserted.

In this sense, he clarified that "if you are a Muslim, the Russians consider that you are guilty." "If you are from Crimea, you are too. If you have a Ukrainian passport, too", he stressed during his speech in the framework of the first summit of the Crimean Platform, which is being held in Zagreb, Croatia.

In addition, he has pointed out that the Russian authorities are "constantly militarizing Crimea" and "deliberately destroying the peninsula", while he has lamented that there is an "absolute lack of guarantees on the right to private property", as has been collected by the Ukrinform news agency.

Delegations from more than 50 countries and institutions from all over the world attended the summit of the Crimean Platform, which means the presence of some 400 politicians and senior officials.