Crimean Tatars continue preventing trucks with Ukrainian products from entering Crimea

The two-kilometer queue of trucks has been formed in Kherson region.

As Crimea.Realities media outlet reports, the ongoing campaign, initiated by the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, to block the trucks with the products and goods heading to Crimea started at 12:00, September 20. According to the coordinating council of the protest action, the pedestrians and passenger transport will be free to cross the administrative border. In particular, a group of Crimean Tatars, representatives of the pro-Ukrainian forces and local residents blocked the traffic of trucks at the checkpoint “Kalanchak” in Kherson region since 15:00, September 20. As of today, the two-kilometer queue of trucks has been formed in Kherson region.

Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for the Crimean Tatar people, Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev informed that following the civil blockade, the unknown persons had committed the acts of vandalism near his house in Bakhchisarai and the provocations near the former studio of the ATR Crimean Tatar TV channel in Simferopol. Later it was reported that the Dzhemilev’s house was picketed by representatives of the Crimean self-defense Samooborona group.

 The organizers put forward the following demands on the Russian Federation:

– The release of Ukrainian political prisoners – Nadiya Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko, Oleksandr Kostenko, Akhtem Chiygoz, Mustafa Degermendzhy, Ali Asanov and Tahir Smedlyaev;

– Elimination of illegal obstacles for Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar mass media in Crimea;

– Unhindered access to Crimea for foreign journalists and international observers of human rights;

– Termination of criminal and administrative prosecution of Crimean Tatars and other citizens of Ukraine in Crimea;

– Lifting of the ban on entry to Crimea leaders Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov, as well as activists of the national movement of the Crimean Tatars and Ismet Yuksel and Sinaver Kadyrov.

Head of the Crimean occupation authorities Sergey Aksyonov responded to the blockade saying that Ukrainian goods accounted for no more than 5% in the region’s market.

Head of the “Almenda” Center for Civic Education Olha Skrypnyk, commenting on the idea of the blockade, said, “If someone suggests fully blocking Crimea, it’s necessary to figure out whether Ukraine will be able to host the people from the peninsula. Has Ukraine settled the problem of getting Ukrainian education? Has it solved the problem of getting the acts of civil status for Crimea residents, who cannot do that in Crimea? Many other issues still have to be settled for the citizens of Ukraine who live in Crimea and want continue keeping in touch with Ukraine.”