Occupying Power trying to divide Crimean Tatars Using the Holiday of Hydyrlez

The occupying “power” in Crimea has decided to forbid any demonstrations on May 18^th and is using the holiday of Hydyrlez to divide the Crimean Tatar people.

The Center for Journalist Investigations reports that this was stated by the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Refat Chubarov, in his video address recorded in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages.

Refat Chubarov said that, since the occupation of Crimea, Crimean Tatars are not allowed to commemorate the victims of deportation on May 18^th, as has been done for the past two decades.

“For 23 years, since having returned from places of exile to our homeland, each year on May 18th we, the Crimean Tatars as well our neighbors of different nationalities, have gathered together at venues all over Crimea. In the central square of Aqmescit/Simferopol, there have been huge mournful rallies to remember the dead and pray for the repose of their souls. But, last year, the occupiers invaded Crimean land, bringing with them thousands of Russian police and military. They were able to interfere with the Aqmescit/Simferopol mass memorial events, displacing the mournful rallies of Crimean Tatars to outside the cities and villages of Crimea,” said Chubarov.

This year, he said, occupational authorities decided to prohibit any demonstrations on this day, but they are trying to hide their hostile attitude against the indigenous people of Crimea. They have announced that they are conducting a celebration of the Crimean spring holiday Hydyrlez on May 3^rd. Refat Chubarov expressed confidence that neither Crimean Tatars nor other Crimeans will be deceived by this.

Chubarov also said that in a situation where the leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev, as well as Sinaver Kadyrov and Ismet Yuksel are denied entry to the Crimea, and the deputy head of the Mejlis Ahtem Chiygoz and Ali Asanov are thrown behind bars, where young Crimean Tatars disappear and some are found dead, when there is persecution of the Crimean Tatar media, “every decent person in Crimea will find a respectable form of behavior for themselves, their relatives and friends to preserve their dignity and honor.”

Mejlis had earlier been refused permission to hold a rally on February 22^nd in commemoration of the anniversary of the death of Noman Chelebidzhihan.