Proposed revelry on anniversary of the Deportation inappropriate
Remembrance Day gathering to mark the Deportation of the Crimean Tatar People
Volodymyr Prytula at Radio Svoboda writes that the Mejlis – which is the representative body of the Crimean Tatar People is angered over the decision of the Crimean Parliament to hold the official celebration of the Crimean Tatar national festival Khydyrlez during the days marking the 69th anniversary of the signing by Stalin of the decree ordering the Deportation of the Crimean Tatars
On Friday and during the next two days the government has organized an alternative celebration of this festival traditionally marked in the first week of May. The All-Crimean Khydyrlez was held on 6 May at the initiative of the Mejlis, but was boycotted by government officials.
In previous years the festival has been held earlier with the Mejlis receiving considerable support from the government.
This year Anatoly Mohylyov has effectively declared a cold war against the Mejlis. The government refused to take part in the 6 May festivities organized by the Mejlis near Bakhchysarai and simply announced their own in a clearing in the Simferopol district, as well as in Sudak and Yevpatoriya.
Not only is this inappropriate since the festival, like Christmas or Easter, cannot be held when the authorities choose, but it is also grossly insensitive since 10-12 May 1944 marked the beginning of the preparations for the terrible crime against the Crimean Tatar people – the Deportation. Stalin’s decree was signed on 11 May and the preparations were already initiated the next day, Crimean historian Gulmara Bekirova explains.
This is not the first sign that Mohylyov and / or the regime in Kyiv are going all out for confrontation with the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and endeavouring to divide the Crimean Tatar’s. Please see Engineering conflict in the Crimea and the links below