The head of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, a member of Mejlis, Eskender Bariiev, said that there is no way that “Qirim Birligi” can become an analogue of Mejlis and represent the Crimean Tatar people, like any other public organization, since they were not elected by the Crimean Tatars. This was reported by Ukrinform.
"One of the leaders of "Qirim Birligi" turned out to be the former deputy chairman of Mejlis, and the Russians thought that he was quite influential and could influence the Crimean Tatar people. They supported such initiatives as "Qirim", "Qirim Birligi", the so-called "national-cultural autonomy of the Crimean Tatars", various NGOs, hoping that the Crimean Tatars will follow them. But they did not succeed. Moreover, the Crimean Tatars began to carry out a social boycott of these people at weddings, funerals, they simply distanced themselves from them," Eskender Bariiev emphasized.
It is noted that the Russian authorities decided to "replace" the system of national self-government of the Crimean Tatars. First, they initiated a meeting that called for the "extraordinary expanded Qurultay of the Muslims of Crimea", which launched the "Council of the Crimean Tatar people." Later in March, the occupation authorities of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea announced that on the basis of this "council" the so-called "Council of Crimean Tatars under the auspices of the head of the Republic of Crimea” was established as an advisory body.
A member of Mejlis emphasized that although the Russians were able to co-opt the Mufti of Crimea, who was elected before the occupation, the Muslim Qurultay can in no way replace the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people. The same applies to "Qirim Birligi", which TASS has called the "analogue of Mejlis", or to any other public organization or political party.
In no case can the "Qirim Birligi" be an analogue of the Mejlis and represent the Crimean Tatar people. Neither can any other public organization. The Crimean Tatar people did not elect them. Therefore, any such statements in this regard are the insinuations of the Russian Federation in order to demonstrate to the international community that the rights of the Crimean Tatar people are allegedly not violated in Crimea," Bariiev emphasized.
According to him, there is a whole system of national self-government of the Crimean Tatars, and it has not gone anywhere, despite the ban of the Russian court, which is trying to take advantage of the expiration of the 5-year term of Qurultay and Mejlis.
"It should be understood that there are 250 delegates of the Qurultay who were legitimately elected in 2013, and 33 members of which are members of Mejlis. In addition, there is a system of local and regional Mejlises, this is about 2,5 thousand people. There is also the Central Electoral Commission of Qurultay represented by 17 persons, and an Internal Audit Commission of Qurultay, said a member of Mejlis.