Deoccupation of Crimea cannot take place without decommunization and decolonization. The restoration of historical toponyms on the peninsula is a tool for the de-occupation of Crimea, as well as an important way of fighting in the ideological war against the occupiers. In this way, we demonstrate that the Russians have nothing to do with either Crimea or Ukraine as a whole.
That is why, on January 29, 2023, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People started an information and advocacy campaign – “Let’s return the names – let’s return Crimea”, which is aimed at restoring historical toponyms in Crimea.
We are sincerely glad that the activities of the CTRC do not go unnoticed by the state authorities of Ukraine and the entire Ukrainian society, and we welcome the publication of 12 steps for the deoccupation of Crimea by Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the NSDC, among which is the clause on renaming Sevastopol with the temporary name “Object No. 6”. Danilov notes that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine will later make a decision on the new name of the city, and the NSDC secretary himself thinks that it could be “Akhtiar”.
However, what is the correct name for this city?
CTRC urges to use the correct names, because “Akhtiar” is an exclusively Russian narrative of the name Akyar. Since it was the Russian emperor Paul I in 1797 who used the name “Akhtiar”.
In fact, the historical name of Sevastopol sounds like Aqyar in Crimean Tatar. By returning this very name, in addition to destroying the Russian presence on the peninsula, we will also contribute to the preservation of the history, culture and heritage of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine.
We continue to work for the speedy restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine and for our victory!
Crimea is Ukraine!