Kyiv remembers deported Crimean Tatars
Commemoration of the victims of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people is necessary in order to prevent such catastrophes from being repeated. This was stated by the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, MP of Ukraine Refat Chubarov during an event in Kyiv arranged to commemorate the victims of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people in 1944, Ukrinform reports.
“By the decision of the Verkhovna Rada, May 18 is the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people, since by its decree the parliament defined the crime of deportation as genocide committed by the Soviet authorities ... And this year a series of events will be held in Kyiv and in many cities and regions of Ukraine where Crimean Tatars live. It is clear that this is not only a sincere act of respect, although it is very important, but it is our need to take such measures in order to avoid repeating such catastrophes in the future, such as the Holodomor, the Holocaust, and deportation,” Chubarov said.
He added that the Crimean Tatar activists and community plan to conduct mourning actions in the occupied Crimea separately from the Russian invaders, on May 18.
In turn, the Crimean Tatar leader, Mustafa Dzhemilev, has reminded that the day of deportation is a tragic, terrible event that could lead to the death of all the people. However, the Crimean Tatars managed to create an unprecedented mass movement for the return to their homeland.
According to Dzhemilev, the activities dedicated to the 75th anniversary of deportation will be held in many countries. In particular, on May 21 this date will be celebrated in Turkey at the national level.
During the memorable events, a charity fair was held to support children from the families of Crimean political prisoners. In the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, almost 170 children were left without support of their parents as they were arrested by the Russian authorities for political reasons. Further activities ranged from the creative performance in memory of the victims of deportation, a photo exhibition of families of modern Crimean Tatar political prisoners, to a fair of souvenir products featuring Crimean Tatar symbols and books, children's drawings. Collected funds will be transferred to the families of political prisoners. As part of the event, a book by historian Gulnara Bekirova “Leader's Way. Mustafa Demiliev” was presented.
In 1944 the Soviet regime mass deported representatives of indigenous people from the Crimea – the Crimean Tatars – to Siberia and Central Asia. According to some estimates, during the deportation and during the first years of life in a foreign country, Crimean Tatars lost almost half of their population.
