Former detainee of Russian regime Nariman Dzhelyal begins role as Ukraine's ambassador to Türkiye
Ambassador of Ukraine to Türkiye Nariman Dzhelyal and President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (x.com/Communications)
Deputy Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Nariman Dzhelyal has officially assumed his duties as Ukraine's Ambassador to Türkiye. He presented his credentials to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, according to the Directorate of Communications of the Turkish Presidency.
"President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Ambassador Nariman Dzhelyal of Ukraine at the Presidential Complex. At the meeting, Ambassador Dzhelyal presented his letter of credence to President Erdoğan," the statement read.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan received Ambassador Nariman Dzhelyalov of Ukraine at the Presidential Complex.
— Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications (@Communications) July 8, 2025
At the meeting, Ambassador Dzhelyalov presented his letter of credence to President Erdoğan. pic.twitter.com/mdlW3L29ps
Nariman Dzhelyal appointed Ukraine's ambassador to Türkiye
In May, Nariman Dzhelyal was officially appointed as Ukraine's new ambassador to Türkiye by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Dzhelyal is a Crimean Tatar politician, journalist, and human rights defender. He was born on April 27, 1980, in Navoi, Uzbekistan, and returned to Crimea with his family in 1989.
In 2013, he became the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People.
After Russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014, Dzhelyal remained on the peninsula, actively defending the rights of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians. He documented human rights violations and regularly attended politically motivated court hearings.
In September 2021, following his participation in the Crimea Platform summit, he was arrested by Russian security forces on sabotage charges. In 2022, he was sentenced to 17 years in a high-security penal colony.
He was released as part of a prisoner exchange in June 2024 and returned to Ukraine.
