Chubarov Reacts to Opening of Stalin Monument in Crimea
Those who defended the installation of a monument to Stalin in Livadia, will “be uprooting it with their bare hands,” wrote Refat Chubarov, the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, on his Facebook page.
“The Almighty is just, as well as gracious … Inshallah, He will lead us to a time when those who today have contributed to, justified, and applauded the installation of a monument to Stalin in Livadia, will be uprooting this monster out of Crimean land with their bare hands,” wrote the head of the Mejlis.
On February 5th the opening of the monument to the “big three,” heads of states who participated in the Yalta Conference: Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, took place in front of the Livadia Palace. Its opening is timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the conference.
The monument, made by famous sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, was going to be installed 10 years ago. But, politicians and the public were outraged by the initiative, so the idea was rejected. Now, Crimean opinions on this matter differ: some say it is a tribute to the historical memory. Others say it is a revival of Stalinism and note that it is sacrilegious to raise any monument to Stalin on Crimean Tatar land, as Stalin ordered the deportation of their people in 1944.
Earlier, a leader of Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev, claimed that the intention to install a monument to Stalin in Crimea is a provocation by Russian jingoists.
