Remembrance and Vigil

On the 69th anniversary of the Deportation of the Crimean Tatars from their homeland, we join Crimean Tatars in remembering the Victims of a terrible crime. This year, however, the cynical actions of the authorities make vigilance and attention from beyond the Crimea vital.  As reported, over recent months the authorities of Simferopol refused to cooperate with the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People in organizing the huge gathering in Simferopol each year on 18 May; the head of the Crimean Parliament Anatoly Mohylyov made extremely confrontational statements and there have been fairs that attempts would be made to disrupt the main remembrance events and possibly cause trouble.

It is possible that the authorities understood that their actions were being watched.  Certainly the groups in opposition to the Mejlis say that they will not be holding alternative meetings on 18 May.  

Please see Engineering Conflict in the Crimea and the links below for information about the very destructive games being played by Mohylyov probably with backing from Ukraine’s leaders.

Today, however, should be a day of remembrance, not political maneuvers  

During these days in May 1944, at Stalin’s direct order, the entire Crimean Tatar people were deported from the Crimea. It is believed that around 190 thousand men, women and children were forced to leave. Almost half perished on the way to their places of banishment in Siberia and Central Asia.

The return to the Crimea began at the end of the 1980s – beginning of the 1990s. At the present time the population of the Crimea is over 1.9 million, with 260 thousand - Crimean Tatars.

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