For Crimeans, spring of 2014 started with the occupation of the peninsula with the Russian army. Peaceful rallies against the annexation of Crimea were held virtually every day during last year’s March. Radio Freedom’s Crimean service Krym.Realii recall where and when representatives of different nationalities resisted the Russian occupiers. Euromaidan Press has provided a translation.
3 March 2014
A picket to support the servicemen of the Ukrainian armed forces near the Headquarters of the Coast Guard Forces of Ukraine’s naval forces. The participants were assaulted by pro-Russian activists.
7 March 2014
A couple hundred women from the Crimean Tatar neighborhood in Simferopol demonstrated for peace and against Russian troops in Crimea. They lined up with Ukrainian and Russian flags, blue and yellow balloons.
10 March 2014
Another rally against Russian occupation took place on the birthday of the Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko near his monument in Simferopol, the capital of Crimea.
One of the protests of the Crimean Tatars against Russian military aggression on the outskirts of Sevastopol on 10 March 2014 – part of a series of protests that took place on this day.
13 March 2014
Representatives of the movements “Women of Crimea for PEACE” held a silent rally in Simferopol in support of freedom of speech. The women covered their mouths with blue tape and held signs without a single letter in their hands.
14 March 2014
Pickets were held in different regions of Crimea against the referendum, which was designated to take place on 16 March 2014. For instance, on the road from Bakhchysarai to Simferopol:
In Illinka:
18 March 2014
The funeral of Reshat Ametov. The body of the 36-y.o. Crimean Tatar with signs of multiple torture was found on 15 March 2014 in Bilogirsk district. He was kidnapped by unknowns near the building of the Crimean Council of Ministers in Simferopol, where he went out for a solitary picked as a sign of silent protest. This funeral takes place on the Abdal cemetery on 18 March 2014.
