Chubarov sees no other methods except for blockade

The Crimean Tatars should remain on the peninsula in spite of everything as it’s their land, and if they go, they will not be able to return. The blockade is the only way to stop the repression of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea.

This was stated by Chairman of the Mejlis Refat Chubarov at the 11th Ukraine-German Forum “Human rights in war conflict and judiciary reform”, the Human Rights Information Center correspondent reports.

According to Refat Chubarov, the occupation authorities have exerted the greatest pressure on the Mejlis, the spiritual board of the Muslims of Crimea and the Crimean Tatar media, which contributed to unification of the Crimean Tatars, “We have got through several stages: the stage of promises, persuasion, warning, intimidation. Now the Mejlis is at the stage of repression.”

Speaking about the civil action to block the supply of Ukrainian products to Crimea, initiated by the Mejlis, Refat Chubarov said that it was the only way out, “Currently, nobody can say to us what are the tools of influence on Moscow and the occupation authorities in Crimea to ease repression. If anyone knows, may he or she tell me and I will stop blockade tomorrow.”

According to him, the Crimean Tatars should remain on the peninsula in spite of everything as it’s their land, and they’ve already lost it. If they go away, they will not be able to return. However, Ukraine should do everything possible for the “Crimean issue” to be a major issue in the information space and not to be simply forgotten.

Head of the Center for Civic Education “Almenda”, human rights activist Olha Skrypnyk noted that the blockade was still controversial issues among the experts. In particular, behaviour of the armed men triggers question. It is unknown what volunteer battalions they belong to. They themselves have organized roadblocks in Chonhar and checked documents and cars, i.e. actually fulfill functions of police officers. Meanwhile, the organizers of the blockade noted they would block only trucks.

“No action is unlawful if we try to protect the Crimean people,” the human rights activist claim.

The expert called to investigate such cases and to set up a working group that will elaborate the draft law on peculiarities of economic relations with the peninsula as well as the strategy for reintegrating Crimea.