DECLARATION AGAINST THE OCCUPATION OF THE BUILDING OF THE MEJLIS OF THE CRIMEAN TATAR PEOPLE
(Ankara, 16 September 2014)
On 16 September 2014, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, the supreme representative body of the Crimean Tatar People, was occupied by masked gunmen. According to the information received, it was understood that the raid learned to have been conducted by the Federal Security Service (FSB) had been carried out in order to investigate the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, in other words, to crush the activities performed against the Russian occupation.
Our people and opposing residents in Crimea have been forced in various forms to acknowledge the temporary Russian invasion of Crimea which has been continuing since February this year. They attempted to deceive people by so-called elections and imitations of democracy; however, at points where they could not achieve, they started to take despotic “measures”, revealing the true face of the invasion and Russian administration, such as scaring the people by police, canceling demonstration permits, searching houses, detaining people.
The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People has maintained its steady position against the Russian invasion, however, during this process, our national leaders, notably Mustafa Abdülcemil Kırımoğlu, the leader of the Crimean Tatar People, were threatened, not allowed to enter Crimea, detained and tried to be intimidated. Despite all these efforts, our Sky Blue Flag and the Ukraine Flag being the symbol of our position against the invasion could not be lowered from our National Mejlis building. There have been efforts to lower especially the Ukraine Flag several times; night raids have been organized against our National Mejlis by gunmen; however, our determined position could not be prevented.
Several days ago, an election was held by the invasion government in order to show their loyalty to the Russia Federation and play game of democracy in Crimea, so as to legitimate the current unlawful situation. Even though the words of invasion authorities imply otherwise, the entire world see that majority of the residents of Crimea, notably the Crimean Tatar People, boycotted these elections. In spite of all election manipulations and multiple votes, the turnout in the elections stayed very low, not reaching even 50%. Invasion authorities distort the election results and try to prove differently. These elections not having been recognized by many countries and international organizations, notably European Union, are considered to be an instrument to deceive the world and, first and foremost, the Russian people.
As a result of the process continuing such a way, on the night of 15 September, armed persons committed another armed assault against the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and lowered the Ukraine Flag. On the morning of 16 September, somewhat reminding of the morning of 26 February, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People was invaded this time by the persons who are well known where they came from; and the officers in the Mejlis were dismissed from the building. The road on which our National Mejlis is located was blocked and patrol wagons were brought in front of the National Mejlis. Everyone resisting and disobeying the directives was threatened by weapons and by being taken into custody.
According to the information we received, the raid committed by the Russian Secret Service and the invasion government established in Crimea being the puppet thereof is not the first insult to which our people have been subjected. It is so clear that this assault was made in order to sentence the Crimean Tatar People who protested the elections held in Crimea and that they wanted to frighten our people. The Crimean Tatar People who did not follow the so-called leaders chosen by the invading administration spoiled the game and therefore they are now being threatened. Taking into consideration the increasing pressures, these actions trying to break the resistance of our nation and destroy our civilization in Crimea prove that the point of view of the Crimean Tatar People on the Russian invasion and Russian despotism is absolutely right.
We, the Crimean Tatar Diaspora living in Turkey, have been closely following the developments with deep concern. Striving for that the Crimean Tatar People live in its homeland in peace, we will not hesitate to use any means at our disposal in line with our national principles in case even one of our citizens has a nosebleed.
We strongly condemn the Russian aggression, the human rights violations and pressures that took place and taking place. We honorably announce that we will always stand behind our people and our national movement in Crimea.
It is respectfully announced to the Turkish and World Public Opinion.
