Radical representatives of the Crimean Tatar community vow to fight Russian invaders, said Mustafa Dzhemilyev, a leader of Crimean Tatars and a member of Crimean Parliament in an interview to Financial Times.
He said, people with such requests personally approached him. “We have Islamist, Wahhabis, Salafis… groups who have fought [with the opposition] in Syria. They say: an enemy has entered our land and we are ready,” said Dzhemilyev.
“We can’t stop people who want to die with honor,” he added, stressing that he does not support the idea of ”jihad.”
FT highlights that a potential conflict in Crimea could become international, if “jihadists” from other countries are recruited, as it was during conflict in Chechnya. The publication notes that similar topic is being discussed in social networks on forums, the real actions, however, are not discussed.
Dzhemilyev emphasises that Crimean Tatars are not going to go sign a deal with the puppet government of the peninsular. “This agreement is not worth the paper on which it is written. Everything can change tomorrow,” he said.
“We telling our fathers and sons to keep cool, to be patient – the last thing we need is bloodshed. But their patience is running out,” FT cites Crimean Parliament member Safure Kadzhametova.
On Tuesday, Crimean Parliament passed a resolution, which promises Crimean Tatars significant support and guaranteed representation in the government.
http://www.pravda.com.ua/news/2014/03/11/7018418/?attempt=2
Translated by Borys Vasylyshyn, edited by Mariana Budjeryn
