Protest actions of Crimean Tartars
21.05.2000
In the end of March the Medjliss declared the beginning of protest actions dated for 18 May the anniversary of deportation of the Tartar people from the Crimea. In April a meeting was held near the building of the Supreme Council. At this meeting the manifesto on joining the Crimea to Russia issued by Empress Catherine the Great as well as the Constitution of the autonomous republic of the Crimea issued recently were burned in protest. This action was criticized by Leonid Grach, the speaker of the Crimean Parliament and the leader of Crimean communists. On 6 May, following the appeal of the Medjliss, protest marches of Crimean Tartars began. Tartars from Kerch started the campaign, planning to walk 220 kilometers to Simferopol during a fortnight. The second column, from Krasnoperekopsk, started on 12 May. On the following day the columns from Djankoy and Sudak started, on 14 May — from Yalta and Alushta, on 16 May — from Sebastopol and Bakhchisaray. On 18 May in the morning all the columns entered Simferopol.
‘Stolichniye novosti, 18 May 1999
‘Stolichniye novosti, 18 May 1999