“Our Principles of Non-Violence Let Us Avoid Bloody Conflicts in Crimea,” – Mustafa Jemilev

“Our Principles of Non-Violence Let Us Avoid Bloody Conflicts in Crimea,” – Mustafa JemilevMay 15, 2011

There’s no need to introduce Mustafa Jemilev. Being a political figure he already become a legend. Few months ago a group of Ukrainian and foreign scientists nominated Mustafa Jemilev to the Nobel Peace Prize and in late April this year he was given an awarded “Light of Justice” by Ukrainian Catholic University “for moral and spiritual leadership in Ukraine“. Why, despite the difficult and sharp conflicts there wasn’t a drop of blood for the last 25 years in Crimea? What sensitive problems Crimean Tatars face today? Is political Islam dangerous? What influence has pro-Russian groups on Crimean Tatar national movement? All these questions were discussed with the leader of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Jemilev in his interview to Radio Liberty.

– Mustafa-effendi, how do you evaluate the outcome of the struggle of Crimean Tatar National Movement for the past few decades? Did all your hopes realize?

– The goals of the National movement were set back in the middle 50es of the 20th century. I mean complete return of the Crimean Tatar people to its historical motherland and restoration of its rights. We didn’t reach this in full extent yet. A lot of Crimean Tatars still forced to live in the places of their former exile. The process of return was hard. Many problems still remain unsolved. However, I must note the following: of course, we knew that this regime will fall some day and this empire will collapse and we will get back to our homeland. But, frankly speaking, we can’t fancy that we will return for ourselves and will see it with our own eyes. That is why there’s no reason to say that we reached nothing. Of course, we wished more, but the reality turned to be… In fact, we didn’t expect such great progress. For example, my biggest dream was to die in freedom, not to be buried with a number in my head. I didn’t believe much that I’ll return.

– What Ukrainian realias Crimean Tatars have to face today? What problems remain unsolved yet? How can we ease tension around the land issue in Crimea?

– Speaking about the most sensitive and burning issues of the Crimean Tatar people of the day, I’d rather put the problem of preserving of ethnic identity on the first place, instead of land issue. You see, our children can’t speak our native language. There’s no schools, no system of education in native language. Compared to about 400 schools existed before the deportation in the Crimean ASSR, during all years following the proclamation of Ukrainian independence we managed to open only 15. Of course, these schools differ from pre-war ones. They are bigger. But, the number of school children studying in them represents only 10 per cent of all Crimean Tatar children, in other words, only 10 per cent of our children have possibility to get at least any proficiency in their native language.

– But, the majority of subjects aren’t taught in native language in these schools?

– Yes, of course, not in native. Nevertheless, they get at least some knowledge of Crimean Tatar language in these schools. Other 90 per cent basically go to Russian-speaking schools. The thing comes about the loss of national identity, assimilation, threat of people’s complete vanishing. The land issue is a social problem that could be solved sooner or later. If people will loose their “ego”, it would mean that all our years spent in prison were spent in vain. Thus, we could be equally assimilated in the Central Asia.

– Experts say that the land issue is not a pure social problem, but is a part of ethnic identity of the Crimean Tatar people.

– It is clear. When Jews built their own state the leaders of Zionist movement used to say that a people could be a people only working on its own land. Without its own land people can’t stand firm on one’s feet. But, here in Crimea the land issue lies more in social area. There was a very big error in land issue. When the Land Code was adopted we repeatedly addressed the authorities, because the rights of the deportees were not respected in this draft. The provision saying that land during privatization to be allocated to those who worked on it, that is, to the members of the collective farms. It was absolutely inadmissible in Crimea and for Crimean Tatars, because in light of the circumstances we couldn’t be members of the collective farms in Crimea. We were in exile in Uzbekistan at that time. That is why it must be provided in a separate article – “the right to land for Crimean Tatars who resided in the village and who has the same right for land as the members of the collective farms”. Unfortunately, we failed to get this and we were deprived during land sharing. This is one side of the situation. Another aspect is allocation of land for construction of individual houses. The State does not return us what was taken from us illegally – our lands, our houses, etc…. Today other people who came from various regions of Russia live in these houses. We do not insist on this. You know, we understand that they have no place to go. The State says that it will solve our problems and allocate us financing from the budget. Actually, some finances are allocated annually for solution of this problem. But, financing is so scanty! Given that about 80 thousand families have settled in Crimea today, only 7 thousand families received housing for account of the state budget. All the rest bought houses for their own money, their own labor, etc. Engineers, professors made bricks and built their houses. Such is the situation. If the authorities do not provide us housing Crimean Tatars demand at least land plots for individual construction. But even here we face with resistance. I know land cost is high. The local officials gave preference to various commercial structures not for a fixed fee, but for bribes. This situation leads to conflicts. Because Crimean Tatars see such injustice in land share and have to squat land plots for individual construction.
We have been accused in violation of the law, in squatting of land. But, it turns out that if we have kept to the laws and orders of the present and Soviet authorities, we wouldn’t return to our homeland at all. Unfortunately, it is so. We’d like that everything was in accordance with the law and justice. Crimean Tatars have a keen interest in stability, reinforcement of an independent democratic Ukrainian state, but we are constantly forced to make such actions.

– You say that Crimean Tatars are forced, provoked to response. Is there any possibility that Crimea could turn into a barrel of gunpowder? Could there be conflicts with participation of Crimean Tatars?

– Tracking development of the situation in the post-Soviet space, Tadzhikistan, Uzbekistan, the conflicts between Uzbeks and Turks, the conflicts between Uzbeks and Kyrgyzs, Karabachos conflict, etc. There were much more reasons for such bloody conflicts. Thank God we could avoid this. Kyiv, official authorities boast at their wise policy they allegedly carry out, but the truth is in other sphere. In every sensitive situation we did our best in order to avoid bloodshed. If it will start, it will be very hard to stop it. The main thing is that solution of the problem reaches a deadlock, drew back. That is why our principles of non-violence let us avoid conflicts. Of course provocations occur. There are forces that desire such conflicts. We can track all this in the Internet, with so many provocative publications, so many humiliations against Crimean Tatars, particularly in Russian Mass Media. It is easy to understand the motivation of Russian chauvinistic journalists. But there are exceptions among the Russian journalists who write quite objective articles according to their conscience. But, in general the direction is as follows: Crimean Tatars are enemies. The constant harassment, constant suggestion that Crimean Tatars just about to burst Crimea, that there will be a second Chechnya, second Kosovo. The reason is to pass the desirable for reality. Some forces desire that Ukraine to have its own Chechnya, Thank God, we could avoid this yet.

– You’ve touched “Russian theme”. How weighty is the Russian factor in Crimean policy? Is there any influence of Russia on the Crimean Tatar National Movement?

– The official statistics testifies that ethnic Russians comprise 58 % of Crimean population, Russian speaking (in other words, those who have lost their national identity) – everyone, except Crimean Tatars went under the Russian influence. There were different sociological surveys, according to them about 75 % Russian speaking citizens of Crimea see their future with Russia and want to be a part of the Russian Federation. And correspondingly, quite strong propaganda is carried out here imposing that Crimean future is related to Russia. More than 80%, some even say that more than 90% Russian speaking citizens – these are post-war immigrants or their descendants. They have historical ties with their homeland. They have relatives there. It is quite understandable. One thing though we can’t understand – why they want to get united with their historical native land along with our historical homeland. We also wished to return to our homeland. We took our trunks and came here, but that part of population wants to return to Russia along with our historical homeland. Here is a conflict, because no one let it go. In fact, if they will cross the line any conflicts are possible.

– Says that Russia works on splitting the Crimean Tatar national movement from inside?

– Judging from the official data two Russian diplomats were deported from Ukraine in 2008. One of them was the General Consul of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Odessa – Alexander Grachev, the other – senior counselor of Russian Embassy – Vladimir Lysenko. He was accused of supporting separatists in Crimea. It turned out that he often came here. Another his task was removal of the present leaders of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and penetration of pro-Russian people among Crimean Tatars to Mejlis. It just didn’t mention what meant removal – physical or other. They were deported for this. They showed great activity, though they had not much success.
I know that there is a group supported by Russia. After Russian – Georgian military conflict in 2008 they addressed to the President Medvedev with the letter asking to defend Crimean Tatars from “the policy of genocide” carried out by Ukraine against the Crimean Tatar people. It was quite provocative address, because right after this many Crimean Tatar public organizations gathered on the joint press-conference stating that these are provokers who do not reflect opinion of even one hundredth of the Crimean Tatar people. But, to our amusement after Victor Yanukovych came to power these groups became the favorites of the authorities. They enjoy support and the attempts are made to penetrate them into the Council of representatives of the Crimean Tatar people, the special decree was even issued. And it is quite understandable. According to the decision of the national convention Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people on the last presidential elections supported basically another candidate – Yulia Timoshenko. Viktor Yanukovych was supported by pro-Russian organizations. So, this is the payment for the support. Though, these groups of Crimean Tatars didn’t know who will win the elections. Their basic goal was to oppose any decision of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. After election of Viktor Yanukovych the President of Ukraine they started proving actively the rightness of their political beliefs. Though, they did their best, a very small percentage of Crimean Tatars supported them.

– How influential are these pro-Russian groups among Crimean Tatars?

– I would say that it equals zero. On the local elections these groups supported Ukrainian Peasant Democratic Party and Socialist Party in opposition to Mejlis. They received big material support from the authorities. They considered that they will be elected MP of Ukraine and they could say to Crimean Tatars that you are the representatives of Crimean Tatar people in state power. But it happened so that they didn’t overcome 3% barrier and were elected nowhere. This time the electoral system was mixed and we had fewer chances to elect our representatives to the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Nevertheless, at least 5 members were elected in Party lists “Narodniy Rukh”. However, if on these elections the proportional system was preserved there would be much more our representatives in the Rada. I think at least 10-11.

– Does it testify to increasing support of Mejlis by the Crimean Tatar people?

– Yes, but after the presidential elections there was a big apathy. I think this situation is with all Ukrainian people. If 70-80 per cent of population participated in general on the last elections, this time on local elections – only 47 per cent. Among Crimean Tatars it is 51 per cent, compared to 70-80.

– Maybe it is related to the influence of groups of political Islam that call not to take part in elections? How dangerous is this influence for Crimean Tatars today?

– Of course this is a negative influence. Before the local elections, on the presidential elections the percentage of participation of Crimean Tatars comprised 75%. That is why the influence of people who want that Crimean Tatars do not take part in elections was tiny. However, on local elections where each vote cost as golden such groups cause great damage.

– Could such groups, that have different names, including the radical Islamists, influence negatively on the principle of non-violence solution of the sensitive issues? Could they change the atmosphere of Crimean Tatars’ fight?

– Crimea differs from other Islamic regions of the former Soviet Union. We had big luck that we created our own system of national self-government before the collapse of the Soviet Union. On the last year of the Soviet regime, in summer 1991 we held our national convection – Qurultay. Provided that the national movement envisages revival of the religious life, the activists of the national movement took an active part in formation of religious communities. That is why the overwhelming majority of Muslim communities in Crimea supervised by the civil structure – Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. But, the religious groups, we are talking about create their own religious communities and register them in the state bodies. On some reasons the authorities support this process. But, such religious communities do not subject to the Spiritual Board of Crimean Muslims. Today there are about 340 Muslim communities in Crimea, one tenth of which has independent status.
If no measures would be made of course in the future they could constitute a menace. People on the post-Soviet space who were deprived of true religion subjected to various influence. Thank God, we could neutralize this influence yet. There were even times when so called community Khyzb ut-Takhrir tried to change Imams in mosques where they could do it. They have an interesting tactics. They came from all over Ukraine to one mosque and after prayer they say that they have to change Imam, that he hasn’t got enough knowledge and put that issue to the vote. So they migrated from one mosque to another. Then Mejlis had to make an official statement that all mosques to be under control of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and no changes of Imams could be made without approval of the Spiritual Board of Crimean Muslims. There was a lot of noise around this statement, saying that Mejlis illegibly interfere with religious life in the peninsular. But such step was very necessary at that time and we neutralized them.

– Making this step you might have incurred their displeasure? There was an information that someone prepared attempt on your life?

– It is hard to say was this true or not. You know, after the arrest his mother and wife came to me. They said that he didn’t even think of killing anyone, that it was a provocation. And that weapon and explosives were planted on him. I can’t say were they sincere or not. But, these radical circles really used to say that Mejlis are unfaithful, Imam and Mufti of Crimea are unfaithful that they need to be exterminated. We heard such talks. I don’t know could these talks become reality. First of all I was informed about it by the Security Service. They told me about the potential attempt. The Minister of the Internal Affairs came here already on the next day. He said that they had to arrest three Crimean Tatars. Don’t regard it as any repressions against Crimean Tatars. We just have definite information about preparation of the terrorist acts. When the thing came about this I recalled the deportation of two Russian diplomats that had their goal to remove the leaders of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. I though that everything is possible, though I wasn’t sure. The Russian part denied everything.

– Today Crimea is inhabited by various ethnic groups. How do you evaluate today’s atmosphere in the peninsular? Is this the same atmosphere that was before the deportation? How do you see the Crimean autonomy?

– In January 1991 there was a referendum in Crimea titled “Do you want that Crimea was the Autonomous Soviet Socialistic Republic – a subject of the Union”. Or something like that. It was the CPSU project before the collapse of the Soviet Union. In other words, hands were untied, considering this wording. At that time Crimean Tatars objected strongly this referendum. They said that the Crimean Autonomous Republic in 1921 was created on the national basis as national-territorial autonomy. Today this referendum on creation of the autonomous republic when the majority of people are in deportation and only small part of people returned to Crimea is an absurd. At that time we boycotted this referendum. However, as it was expected, the majority vote for this wording and started insisting on recognition of the results of referendum. Then we had a talk with Leonid Kravchuk. Unfortunately, the results of this referendum were considered by the Verkhovna Rada of the USSR. And the reasons of Crimean delegates who supported the referendum were as follows: Crimea has the biggest Russian population in Ukraine that is why there have to be autonomy. In other words in fact it was creation of Russian autonomy.

When we talked with Kravchuk concerning this issue he told us that he can’t prevent this referendum because of the pressure from Kremlin. Though it was already 1991 and the pressure wasn’t so strong as before. Then Kravchuk told let’s create this Crimean autonomy and later on we will fill it with the national content. However, this filling didn’t happen. Already few years later Kravchuk called this autonomy an illegitimate child, but it was already too late. Our demands that were formed back in exile to create the same autonomy, based on the same principles as in 1921. Today, it doesn’t come about renaming it into Crimean Tatar autonomy. It is called the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, but it must consider the elements that would protect the rights of its indigenous people. First of all it comes about the language. Crimean Tatar language must be one of the official languages in Crimea as it was before the deportation. If this language doesn’t function it is doomed to extinction. Today Crimean Tatar language enters the list of UNESCO as being on the fringe of extinction. Moreover, the autonomy must have mechanism that would protect the rights of its indigenous people to representation in all levels of state power. There must be guarantee that the majority won’t impose its point of view, as it is in the European countries. Unfortunately, yet we failed to do this.

– Considering the political changes in Ukraine what are the relations between Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and the Ukrainian authorities? How Crimean Tatars found the new Ukrainian political realias?

– In order to determine our position concerning the presidential elections we sent letters with our questions to all candidates in order to understand their vision of solving of the Crimean Tatar people problem, and in general about the development of Ukraine – the direction to follow. We didn’t received answer from Yanukovych and it is quite understandable why. You know, if he would gave us the answers that we like he would loose many other votes. The power came that far from that vision Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people keeps to. If in Kuchma or Yuschenko times Mejlis was regarded as the main power that opposes pro-Russian separatists, new power mainly support pro-Russian separatists. We found ourselves alone: no support, neither from Kyiv, nor from the local authorities that was formed after the presidential elections.
The only thing that will save us is consolidation of all Crimean Tatars. Despite inconceivable efforts to weaken Mejlis today the authorities forced to build a dialogue with us. I heard the opinion of the representatives of the authorities about the return to the former structure of the Council of representatives of the Crimean Tatar people (when it consisted only of Mejlis’ members – editor). This is a step in the right direction, if it will be really so. Though, I understand the difficulties in the presidential structure, because they issued an order stating the names of whose, who will represent Crimean Tatars among the representatives of new groups. Now one has to cancel this order, to say that it was a mistake. It is not very clear how they will solve this situation. But, today there are steps towards Crimean Tatars on many problems and these are right steps. We will track the development of events in the future.

– Do you have the new generation of Crimean Tatar leaders?

– We have few youth organizations. They are quite active. They keep close relations with Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. Every five years we hold elections of delegates of the National Convection. This very National Convection elects these leaders, members of Mejlis. We constantly trying to support youth, though, maybe they yield to old, more experienced ones in some respect. But, we understand that there could be stagnation in the national movement without renewal.

– You put the question of you resignation from the post of the Chairman of Mejlis before the delegates of the National Convection of Qurultay several times, but it was denied. You said that you will still insist on leaving and giving the way to younger ones. Who could pick up the baton of the leader of Mejlis?

– The National movement of Crimean Tatars developed some principles and no leader could deny them. To my opinion, of course it matters who will head Mejlis, but it is impossible to change the main direction the national movement. The threads of those people who say that I shouldn’t leave because it could split the national movement are groundless. I definitely have to leave. I’ve been chairing since 1991 already for 20 years. It isn’t normal. People just used to this chairman of Mejlis and think that everything will change drastically if another chairman will come. Moreover I’m not going to give up politics at all. Yet I can stand on my feet I will support the new leadership.

Vladimir Pritula, Olesya Bortnyak
Radio Liberty