In the fourth publication about the life stories and fates of the Crimean Tatar families, which were prepared within the project “Hostage of the Occupation”, we offer you to get acquainted with Elmira Kataki, who, after the occupation of Crimea, had to be re-qualified from a soon-to -be judge into a craftswoman of the Crimean Tatar embroidery. What was the reason for this choice – you may find the answer in her life story.
Until 2015, Elmira Kataki lived in the picturesque Crimea together with her family, raising three children and planning to become a judge in the future. The occupation of Crimea forced the Kataki family to flee their homeland and settle for temporary residence in the Kyiv region.
"We would have never left Crimea, we imagined our life only in Crimea. But we did not want our children to grow up in such a society,” admits Elmira, adding that her children still remember Crimea and anticipate to come back one day.
The relocation had made a dramatic impact on Elmira's life. From a soon-to-be judge, she requalified to become a mistress of the Crimean Tatar embroidery. According to Elmira, the choice she made was predicated on the conviction that culture plays an enormous role in the revival of the nation and she believes it is precisely the cultural component that should become the basis for a dialogue between Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars on the mainland Ukraine.
Today, Elmira's daughter does folk dancing, and all three children are soon expected to take courses in the Crimean Tatar language so that they remember that they are Crimean Tatars. Elmira herself frequently represents and popularizes the Crimean Tatar culture at various Ukrainian and international venues.
Elmira Kataki dreams to return to Crimea, as soon as possible – her Homeland that would have the status of national-territorial autonomy of the Crimean Tatars.
Project manager: Zarema Bariieva
Author of pictures: Elvir Sagirman
Text writer: Elvir Sagirman
Translation into English: Zarema Bariieva
We remind that on February 26 in Kyiv, the presentation of the album and the exhibition “Hostages of the Occupation” took place, which tell us about the fate of 20 Crimean Tatar families after the annexation of the peninsula. On March 10, the exhibition opened in Vinnytsia. The exhibition is expected to be presented in Lviv and Dnipro as well.
The project was prepared by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center with the support of the Democracy Grants Program of the US Embassy to Ukraine.