Crimean Tatar TV Channel Goes Off Air
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On March 31st, the Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR ceased broadcasting because it could not register as media under Russian law.
In the last hour of broadcasting, founder Lenur Islyamov and general director Elzara Islyamova, speaking in the studio, said that the management will continue attempts to register the channel so that it may continue broadcasting, reports Krym.Realii [Radio Liberty’s Crimean service].
ATR’s deputy director, Lilya Budzhurova noted that the decision to close ATR “hit not only the TV channel, but all of the Crimean Tatar people,” and added that for those who survived the deportation and life in the reservation, it was more difficult then than now.
“It is unlikely that this plan will be a success. We have experienced much worse. Our people survived Stalin. Will we not survive the current problems? We will. And we will continue to build our houses on our land. Yes, today we stop broadcasting, but we know that we will be back. We always come back. And will say once again: ‘ATR TV on the air,’” 15 minut quotes Budzhurova.
ATR finished broadcasting with a final countdown on the screen. Journalists in the studio watched the dwindling seconds and some could not hold back tears.
Meanwhile, the NationalTelevision and Radio Broadcasting Council of Ukraine made a request to the Ukrainian providers to support the Crimean Tatar channel and ensure its broadcast on cable networks.
“This gesture of goodwill will show the entire population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and especially the Crimean Tatar people, which is now experiencing harassment and discrimination in their own land, that the media industry of Ukraine sympathizes with their struggle for freedom of speech and independence,” was noted in the National Council.
According to Russian law, the Crimean media that failed to re-register before April 1 must cease broadcast. ATR could not be re-registered in Roskomnadzor [Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media] for a long time. The requests were refused several times for fabricated reasons. Other Crimean Tatar media are experiencing similar problems. The Crimean Tatar children’s TV channel Lale has also stopped satellite and analog broadcast, along with Meydan radio, and Lider FM. Only one Russian-language newspaper has continued to operate, but it had to change its name.
