Crimean Tatar figures thank Erdoğan for release

Leading Crimean Tatar figures Ulmi Umerov and Akhtem Chyigoz on Thursday thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for efforts in their release from jail.

"The steps of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Petro Poroshenko [Ukrainian President] are really important," Chyigoz told reporters at the Ukrainian Embassy in Ankara.

Umerov said the release was possible due to the efforts of Erdoğan, Poroshenko and the Crimean Tatar Mejlis.

"No one told me if I can return to Crimea [or not]. That is why, I will discuss this with the president [Poroshenko], deputies and officials in Kiev," he said.

Umerov added he plans to return Crimea "as soon as possible".

Umerov, deputy chairman of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis -- a representative body -- and Deputy Mejlis Chair Chyigoz were jailed on Sept. 27 and 11 respectively after being convicted by a Russian court in Crimea for charges of separatism.

Umerov was sentenced to two years in prison, while Chyigoz got eight years.

Andrii Sybiha, Kiev's ambassador in Ankara thanked Turkey for its position towards Crimea and Ukraine's territorial integrity.

"Today, the meeting with Chyigoz and Umerov bears a symbolic meaning," Sybiha said.

On Wednesday in a tweet from his Twitter account, Poroshenko said: "Thank you to the President of the Republic of Turkey @RT_Erdogan for his efforts to free our heroes, as we have agreed in New York and Kiev."

Ukraine has been wracked by conflict since March 2014 following Russia's annexation of Crimea after an illegal independence vote.

The UN General Assembly has voted to proclaim the Russian annexation illegal.

Along with many UN countries, the U.S., the EU and Turkey also do not recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Since the annexation of Crimea, the region's Tatar minority has complained of repression, including arbitrary arrests and detentions.