The European Union has expressed its concern over the ban on the public commemoration of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars in Simferopol.

"The deportation of the Crimean Tatars, which took place 71 years ago today, was a tragic watershed in their history. On this anniversary it is sad to observe that a public commemoration in Simferopol has been prohibited," reads a statement released by the spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, which has been posted on the website of the European Union External Action Service.

According to the statement, this is the most recent example of the restrictions and intimidation faced by the Crimean Tatars.

"The EU has consistently reiterated its concern about the deterioration of the human rights situation on the peninsula since the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014, including as regards the rights of persons belonging to minorities," the statement reads.

The statement also says that freedom of movement, expression and media must be respected, while international human rights agencies must be provided with full, free and unrestricted access to the whole of Ukraine, including Crimea and Sevastopol.