“This war started with Crimea, it will end with it”: letters of representatives of the Crimean resistance to the members of the European Parliament

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“Ukrainian Crimea is not a “red line”, not an object for negotiations and certainly not a sandwich. These are Ukrainian mountains, seas, these are narrow streets. This is the Motherland of three indigenous peoples of Ukraine – the Karaites, Krymchaks and Crimean Tatars. It is a multicultural mosaic of Ukrainian of the state. This is our territory, our people and part of our big home,” Tamila Tasheva, permanent representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, wrote in her address to the members of the European Parliament. At the end of March, the public resistance movement “Yellow Ribbon” handed over letters from Ukrainian activists and opinion leaders to 14 members of the European Parliament and 13 representatives of the Lithuanian Seimas. In them, the authors told the MEPs about the resistance in Crimea and urged them to support it. As a gift for the letters, they received tickets for the first railway flight to Crimea, which they will be able to use after the deoccupation of the peninsula. In particular, Emine Japarova, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Sevgil Musaeva, editor-in-chief of “Ukrainian Pravda”, co-founder of “CrimeaSOS”, Akhtem Seitablayev, film director, actor, Honored Artist of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, serviceman of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Timur addressed the European and Lithuanian deputies. Yashchenko, director and screenwriter of the film “Cherkasy”, Oleksandr Barkova, sister of the Crimean activist Bohdan Ziza, illegally imprisoned by the Russians, anonymous leader of “Ukrzaliznytsia” from Crimea, as well as representatives of “Yellow Ribbon” and Crimean Tatar activists. Handing over a letter and a ticket to a member of the European Parliament. Handing over a letter and a ticket to a member of the European Parliament. Photo: “Yellow Ribbon” public resistance movement Currently, more than 8,000 people in Crimea and other temporarily occupied territories have joined the “Yellow Ribbon” public resistance movement. Activists are putting up informational resistance to the occupiers, hanging yellow ribbons, blue-yellow flags and other Ukrainian symbols on the streets, organizing protest flash mobs on social networks, and also collecting information about collaborators. Flash mobs #ХовтаСтричка, #ЭдынеСерцеУкраины and other initiatives of the movement are supported by Ukrainians from all regions. One of the activities of “Yellow Ribbon” is the informational struggle for the return to Ukraine of the Crimean peninsula, which was occupied by the Russians nine years ago, in 2014. According to official data, more than 180 pro-Ukrainian activists from Crimea are currently in enemy captivity, 116 of them are Crimean Tatars. We publish excerpts of letters to MEPs that “Yellow Ribbon” exclusively provided to “Ukrainian Pravda. Life” with the permission of the authors. Emine Dzaparova, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzaparova, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Emina Japarova The victory of Ukraine and Europe is impossible without the liberation of every millimeter of our territory. In 2014, the international community and Ukraine were unable to give a decent response to the Russian aggression that began in Crimea. This led to a full-scale war in Europe. After all, we all learned the “Crimean lesson” which shows that if the bigger attacks the smaller, no one can feel safe anymore. During the years of occupation, Russia turned the formerly flourishing Crimea into a large prison, where human rights are brutally violated. To break the resistance and silence the pro-Ukrainian voices, the Russian occupiers resumed unprecedented repression in the worst traditions of Tsarist and Soviet Russia. For me, as a Crimean Tatar woman, this war did not start a year ago, but in 2014. Since then, I feel like a warrior with one big dream – to return to my homeland. For this, I use all my professional capabilities. I have no doubts that thanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and powerful international support, the day of Ukrainian victory will come. And then our big European family will meet in a flourishing, free and happy Crimea. Andriy, a Crimean activist of “Yellow Ribbon” Image: “Yellow Ribbon” public resistance movement I have been protesting in the occupied Crimean city of Simferopol for a year now. It is extremely difficult to fight against the occupiers, but I have an irresistible desire to contribute to the liberation of my hometown and the peninsula. I am encouraged by the fact that we have come closer to liberating our home than we ever have in these long 9 years. And we owe this not only to the bravery and indomitability of Ukrainians, but also to the support of our foreign friends. I hope that we will meet in Crimea and celebrate our victory! Sevgil Musaeva, editor-in-chief of “Ukrainian Pravda”, co-founder of NGO “CrimSOS” Sevgil Musaeva, editor-in-chief of “Ukrainian Pravda”. Photo courtesy of Sevgil Musaeva I was two and a half years old when my family moved to Crimea, the homeland of the Crimean Tatars, from where they were illegally deported by the Soviet authorities in 1944. But for nine years, neither I nor my family have been able to return home. After all, in 2014, Russia illegally occupied Crimea. And again, in the 21st century, the Russians deprive the Crimean Tatars of the opportunity to live on their land. During the nine years of occupation of Crimea, many people are fighting for their homeland and freedom. Despite the danger, Crimean activists still resist and dream of liberating the peninsula. In the eyes of the entire civilized world, Putin turned Crimea into a military base. And now it uses the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to attack peaceful Ukrainian cities. Almost every week, Russia launches deadly missiles from the occupied peninsula. Today, Europe is experiencing the biggest humanitarian crisis since World War II. This could have been avoided by stopping the Russian invasion of the peninsula. That is why what started with Crimea must end with Crimea. Without the liberation of the peninsula, this war will never end. Tamila Tasheva, permanent representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Tamila Tasheva, permanent representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Photo provided by Tamila Tasheva I was born into a family of deported Crimean Tatars, which, unfortunately, was not an exception, but a logical and terrible consequence of the completely illegal deportation of my people in 1944, which was ordered by the Kremlin. I was able to see my native home and finally build my future in the Motherland in 1991, like most representatives of the Crimean Tatar people. Then we were able to return to Crimea. February. 2014 year. On the night of February 27, 2014, Russian soldiers without identification marks captured the government building of the autonomous republic. The Crimean parliament also came under their control. These were the first undisguised acts of armed aggression by Russia. Thousands of Crimeans were forced to leave their homes, going to the mainland of Ukraine or to the territory of third countries, because of the threat to their lives. This is the true face of the “will expression” that Russia was talking about. This is how the bloodiest war in Europe since the Second World War began. And this is how the third wave of colonization of the peninsula by Russia began. My colleagues and I work every day for the return of our Crimea and the integration of our citizens, who had to live under occupation for 9 years. We work for the release of political prisoners illegally held by Russia. Currently, there are 181 of them, 116 of them are Crimean Tatars. Ukrainian Crimea is not a “red line”, not an object for negotiations and definitely not a sandwich. These are Ukrainian mountains, seas, and narrow streets. This is the Motherland of three indigenous peoples of Ukraine – Karaites, Krymchaks and Crimean Tatars. This is a multicultural mosaic of the Ukrainian state. This is our territory, our people and part of our big home. All these 9 years, Crimea has been fighting for its freedom and independence. Therefore, we must fight for him with the same strength and devotion. Oleksandra Barkova, sister of the Crimean activist Bohdan Ziza, illegally imprisoned by the Russians. Oleksandra Barkova, sister of the Crimean activist Bohdan Ziza, illegally imprisoned by the Russians. Photo provided by Oleksandra Barkova On May 16, 2022, Bohdan poured blue and yellow paint on the doors of the occupation administration, for which he was taken into custody on four charges, three of which were related to terrorism. A month ago, the brother was transferred to the pre-trial detention center in Rostov-on-Don, which is also illegal, because this is the transfer of a prisoner from the territory of Crimea. We know that after Bohdan’s detention, it all started with beatings and torture. We also have information that no political prisoner is provided with medical assistance. While there, Bohdan saw about five deaths with his own eyes. Currently, there is no proper mechanism for the exchange and return home of civilian political prisoners. But they are also in danger. We ask for an exchange. Europe’s support in this matter is key for us. Russia is not subject to any international law, and even more so, it does not place human rights in anything. But all the same, sanctions have an effect on it and create a certain pressure. They are the lever of action. One of these actions should be the exchange of civilian political prisoners of the Kremlin in Crimea. As Bohdan wrote in one of his letters: “We are being judged for being Ukrainians where, according to the occupation authorities, there should be no Ukrainians.” So we hope for action, we hope to see all our people back home alive. Akhtem Seitablayev, film director and actor, Honored Artist of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Akhtem Seitablayev, film director and actor, Honored Artist of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Photo source: Kinoafisha Every Crimean Tatar (or Crimean, as we call ourselves) lives in a state of constant resistance. It is not the first time that Russia is trying to destroy any identity, and even more so any resistance on the part of anyone: any people, any community, any community and any individual person who in one way or another expresses his disagreement with the criminal regime. In 2014, having seen the occupation of Crimea with my own eyes and not having the physical opportunity to join the armed resistance, I continued to do what I can. “Khaitarma”, “Another’s Prayer”, “Cyborgs”, “Zakhar Berkut”, “Volunteers”, “Mirny-21” – each of my films in one way or another concerns human dignity and the right to make one’s own choice, the defense of freedom, the protection of one’s Motherland, his home, his relatives and loved ones. All of them are mostly based on documentary facts. This is my territory of resistance. Of course, the support of Europe is extremely important. Support of every country and every person. I want to thank you for this support and I want it not to stop, but only to get stronger. Because not everything has been done so that the international criminal Putin and all those who are guilty will suffer a just punishment. Adilya, Crimean Tatar activist Image: Yellow Ribbon public resistance movement Each of us makes plans for the future. My plans changed in March 2014. I looked out the window at the tanks and Russian soldiers that surrounded us. And I understood that now anxiety will live in me for a long time. Fear eats away at the soul. Paralyzes, deprives subjectivity. And most importantly, it takes away the desire to fight. Fight for the right to live in your home. I’m not one. There are hundreds of us who have overcome this fear and confusion. Someone was able to do it earlier, someone later. Someone worked as a school teacher, someone developed mobile applications, someone was a tour guide. We dream of returning to normal life, when the lives of other people will not be threatened. My father told me that a person should take responsibility for what is happening around. His youth was spent in the struggle for the return of Crimean Tatars to Crimea from Central Asia. Half of my people died in this inhumane deportation. And in memory of them, of their sacrifices, I continue to fight for our home. The ranks of those resisting Russian aggression in Crimea are expanding. In this long-term struggle, it became too obvious who is the victim and who is the aggressor. And the more you keep silent or maintain a neutral position, the less human you feel. Let the security on our peninsula, for which we are fighting and waiting for collective support, become a guarantee for global change, not Pandora’s box. Crimea is our only home.

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