Crimean Tatars Banned from Celebrating Flag Day

Crimean Tatars have been banned from celebrating their national Flag Day in downtown Simferopol. Dilyaver Akiyev, Head of the Council of Medjlis, reported this on Wednesday [18 June]. According to him, on 26 June the Crimean Tatars had planned to hold a number of public cultural  events, with kids’ contests and exhibitions. They filed relevant applications with City Hall. However the authorities refused the applications, alleging that the Tatars will prevent tourists from relaxing. Instead, the occupation authorities proposed that the Tatars hold the festival in another park, located in the outskirts of Simferopol. The Majlis turned down this option; and the Tatars will file another application to hold the event on Simferopol’s central square. As reported earlier, in May the Crimean Tatars were banned from commemorating their Day of  Mourning on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Tatar deportation from Crimea. Source: tsn.ua Translated by Ivan Zhezhera, edited by Jon Barrow