But on this anniversary, the first since the easing of the pandemic, Crimean Tatars both in the homeland and abroad have stressed the commonality of the actions of Stalin and Putin and appealed for support from the international community.
They and their supporters have expressed confidence that what Stalin could not do, erase the Crimean Tatars from history, Putin will not be able to do either and that the day is not far off when there will a Crimean Tatar state either within a secure and independent Ukraine or self-standing among the countries of the world.
Across Crimea and despite the opposition of the illegal Russian occupiers, Crimean Tatars took part in a flashmob in which they came out of their homes holding signs recalling Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 1783, Stalin’s deportation in 1944, and Putin’s Anschluss of their homeland in 2014.
Others held up homemade signs declaring “No to the deportation of the Crimean Tatars into the Prisons of the Russian Federation,” “Rehabilitation is on paper but prison is in practice,” and “May 18 (1944) continues to this day.”
Ukrainian officials issued statements in support and opened a photo exhibition on the deportation. Türkiye, the EU and other countries also issued declarations on this date in support of the Crimean Tatars.
Read More:
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- Ten things about the Crimean Tatar deportation you always wanted to know, but were afraid to ask
- Photo project spotlights Crimean Tatar kids born after their fathers’ unlawful arrests by Russian occupation authorities
- Russia comes for Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea once again
- ‘Crimean Tatar tragedy of 1944 being repeated’ and with more damaging effect, Dzhemilev says
- Apakay – a song for the Crimean Tatars deported by Stalin
- 76 years after deportation, Crimean Tatars are again being erased from history in Crimea