Broad Meeting of Mejlis of Crimean Tatar People Attended by Heads of Regional Mejlises Was Held in Aqmescit (Simferopol)

The main items of the agenda were:

– preparation to the national festival Hydyrlez;

– events, commemorating the victims of the genocide of Crimean Tatar people, timed to the 69^th anniversary of the deportation;

– elections of the delegates of the Qurultay of Crimean Tatar people in 7 regions, held from April 27 to 28, 2013;

– meeting of Mejlis’ members with the heads of the Crimean Tatar diaspora organizations from EU member-states, USA and Turkey.

Emine Avamileva, the Head of the Organizational Committee made the report on the preparation to the Crimean Tatar national ethnographic festival “Hydyrlez”.

“The preparations were almost completed, excluding some petty things,”- Emine Avamileva informed and reminded that this year the program of Hydyrlez festival include the performances of the well-known musicians, such as: Jamala, Enver Izmailov and Femi Mustafaev.

Emine Avamileva also informed that the agreements were reached with the Bakhchisaray Regional State Administration about the allocation of the ambulances, fire trucks and water tanks.

In the framework of the preparation to the events, commemorating the victims of the genocide of Crimean Tatar people, timed to the 69^th anniversary of the deportation, the Mejlis’ members discussed in details the formation and organization of the five columns of the Crimean Tatars, as well as their routes to the central square of Aqmescit on May 18, 2013 and persons who will be in charge of every column.

On May 18, 2013 the local meetings next to the memorial stone in the railroad station in Simferopol and monument to the victims of the deportation in Salgirka Park will be held before the beginning of the Crimean mourning meeting.

The International action “Minute of Mourn and Unity” will be held at 12:00. After that the marching of columns along the streets of Simferopol will start.

As soon as all the columns will arrive at the central square the All-Crimean mourning meeting, commemorating the victims of the genocide of Crimean Tatar people – the deportation of May 18, 1944 and decades of their forcible keeping in the places of exile will start. On May 17, the annual action “Light the fire in one’s heart” will be held in the central square of Aqmescit.

The organizing committee on the preparation to the events, commemorating the victims of the genocide of Crimean Tatar people was ordered to develop the detailed plan of the events, considering the public-political situation for its further confirmation at the meeting of the Presidium of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people.

“Today there is an information that the “alternative meeting” was scheduled on May 18,”- Mejlis’ Leader Mustafa Jemilev said, concerning the mourning events of May 18. “The last meeting of the organizing committee on the preparation to the mourning events at the Council of Ministers of ARC considered several questions. For example, the organization “Milli Firka” wants to carry out its own meeting. But I don’t know will it take place or not,”- he said.

Commenting on the possible participation of the representatives of the state and republican authorities at the All-Crimean meeting, Mejlis’ Leader noted that the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people didn’t send any official invitations to attend the mourning meeting.

“Of course, on May 18 the Head of the Council of Ministers of ARC A.Mogilev and others would like to spoke from the tribune at the square, but we can’t predict people’s reaction. We have no aggression against them. But we would like to express our opinion about the recent events in Crimea. No one has right to shot people’s mouths. The 18^th of May is the most tragic day for us,”- M.Jemilev said.

According to M.Jemilev, this year the representatives of the international organizations, accredited in the territory of Ukraine, Ukrainian political parties and organizations will attend the All-Crimean mourning meeting. The representatives of Crimean Tatar diasporas from Turkey, Romania, USA, Russia and other countries confirmed their arrival.

Mejlis’ members were also informed about the coming meeting of the heads of Crimean Tatar diaspora organizations from member-states of the European Union, USA and Turkey that will be held on May 4, 2013 in Aqmescit (Simferopol).

“The participants of the meeting will discuss the issues, relating to the situation with Crimean Tatar people will and make the decisions on the consolidated actions on the solution of the urgent problems, relating to the restoration of the rights of Crimean Tatar people,”- Mejlis’ Leader M.Jemilev underscored.

Zair Smedlyaev, the Head of the Central election commission on the elections of the delegates of the Qurultay of Crimean Tatar people informed about the results of the elections in Bakhchisaray, Krasnogvardeisk, Belogorsk, Jankoy, Sovetsky and Sevastopol regions, held from April 27 to 28, 2013.

According to Z.Smedlyaev, 60 of 110 registered candidates to the delegates were elected to the delegates of Qurultay of the 6^th convocation, according to the data, processed by the Central election commission. “The turnout comprised 57 % (32699 people),”- the Head of CEC Z.Smedlyaev underscored.

He also informed Mejlis’ members about the turnout in every region. Thus, the turnout in Bakhchisaray region comprised 57%, in Chernomorsky – 68%, in Krasnogvardeisky – 60%, in Belogorsky – 54%, in Jankoy – 14%, in Sevastopol – 54%, and in Sovetsky – 68%.

“Many public organizations increased the number of observers that is why the elections will be held in more democratic way,”- the Head of CEC Z.Smedlyaev added.

He also noted that the elections in Razdolnensky and Pervomaysky regions will be held on May 4, and in Alushta, Feodosiya and Saki regions on May 5, 2013.