Refat Chubarov: «Only Crimean Tatar People Has Right to Determine Who and How Could Represent Its Interests»

14 November 2011

The First Deputy Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov has commented on the statements of some citizens, made at the press conference on November 14 concerning the powers of the leaders of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. In particular, that M.Jemilev and R.Chubarov “have no right to represent Crimean Tatars and speak on its behalf neither in Ukraine, nor on an international level”.

“Every 5 years Crimean Tatars elect the delegates of the national convention – Qurultay with this goal. On its sessions 250 elected delegates adopt the decisions, concerning all the principal questions of the development of the Crimean Tatar people, including formation of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and other elective bodies of Qurultay, and also appoint their heads”.

Let me note that all this is done exclusively through the mechanism of the secret ballot with bulletins.

The same way the delegates of Qurultay could impeach credibility on any session to the whole composition of Mejlis, its separate members, its Chairman or his deputies.

As far as those who signed this address concerned (27 persons) there are very different people among them, both who showed courage during the years of repressions and those who at least condemned them publicly or maybe even reported to the authorities.

It is likely that they could gather under their appeal more few hundreds of signatures of those who don’t like Mejlis’ activity on some reasons. As for me, I can advise them to take an active part in the elections of the delegates of Qurultay that will be held in 2012, to be elected a delegate of Qurultay (if only the electorate will support them) and to solve all their issues along with the other 250 elected delegates.

Now I can only repeat my previous appeal to the opponents – do not limit yourselves just with single, usually brutal splashes of emotions, but also show your service to people by everyday specific and useful deeds.

“It’s a pity, but all that our critics can do is just to throw mud at the bodies of the national self-governance of the Crimean Tatar people, as well as to try to involve at least a part of Crimean Tatars to internecine and discord, carrying them off an urgent need to stand for one’s rights every day,”- the First Deputy Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov said.