Crimean Tatar governing body banned by Russian court

SIMFEROPOL, Crimea, April 26 (UPI) -- Crimea's Supreme Court called the representative body of Crimean Tatars an "extreme organization" on Tuesday and officially banned it.

"Its activity is banned in the Russian Federation in general," prosecutor Natalya Poklonskaya said after the decision. "Any actions will be assessed as illegal. If the Mejlis members or its representatives conduct any activity contrary to the court ruling, they will be brought to responsibility."

The Crimean Tatars are the indigenous people of the Crimean peninsula, which was part of the Russian Empire and then the Soviet Union from 1783 until 1991. It was part of Ukraine until March of 2014 when it was annexed by Russia following the Ukrainian revolution that forced Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych from office.

The move to ban the Mejlis was backed by Russia. The Russian court said banned activity includes publications, public events and bank accounts.

The Mejlis has 30 days to file an appeal.