Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar public figures, political prisoner Akhtem Chiygoz and deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Ilmi Umerov, who were released from Russian prison and currently stay in Turkey, according to the website of the Ukrainian president.

"I do not congratulate you on freedom, because freedom will come when we return together with our Crimean Tatars to Crimea. This will be real freedom, and now this is a very important, but intermediate stage of our struggle," he said during the conversation.

Poroshenko also noted that he had instructed Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey to ensure all necessary procedures and that Kyiv was waiting for Chiygoz and Umerov. Poroshenko also asked them about their health and assured them that upon arrival in Kyiv they would be able to undergo a comprehensive medical examination and get the necessary treatment.

"I am proud of you, because you are true Ukrainian patriots. You are the real sons of Ukraine and the sons of the Crimean Tatar people. You have demonstrated the strength of spirit and I welcome this, because you are real heroes," Poroshenko said.

Chiygoz, in turn, thanked the president for the efforts made to release them and expressed admiration for his political wisdom and confident position. He also shared his memories of his stay in prison and said that he was looking forward to returning to Ukraine, because he did not know that after they were released they would be brought to Turkey.

"You cannot imagine that today is a happy day not only for me, as a person who has known and respected you and Ilmi for many years. I'm proud of your political wisdom, not just courage and not just patriotism. You showed how the Ukrainians hold on and how the Crimean Tatars hold on," Chiygoz said.

As reported, on September 11, a Russian court sentenced Chiygoz to eight years in a strict-regime colony. On September 27, Simferopol District Court brought in a verdict in the case of Umerov and sentenced him to two years in a penal colony. After staying in a Russian prison, on October 25, Chiygoz and Umerov were transferred to Turkey, and from there they are to arrive in Ukraine.