In a commentary for the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Gulsum Khalilova, editor-in-chief of the ATR TV channel, spoke about the consequences of the massive rocket attack on Kyiv, during which Russian troops hit the building of the ATR TV channel and significantly damaged it.
‘It could not have been an accident. There is no military infrastructure in the area that could explain the attack as a mistake. Russians systematically persecute independent Crimean Tatar media. First, special forces stormed the office of the ATR TV channel in Crimea, after which it was forced to leave the peninsula. Next came the withdrawal of financial support from Ukraine, which put the channel on the brink of survival. And now we have been physically destroyed,’ – said Gulsum Khalilova.
According to Khalilova, this is the fifth relocation of the ATR crew since the occupation of Crimea in 2014.
‘On 12 February, during a massive missile attack on Kyiv, Russian troops hit the building of the ATR TV channel. This looks like an attempt to completely silence the Crimean Tatar voice, which continues to tell the truth about the crimes of the occupiers,’ – the editor-in-chief stressed.
Fortunately, none of the staff was injured, but the TV channel suffered significant material losses.
‘The explosion damaged the newsroom, studio, dressing room, and staff offices. A lot of equipment was destroyed, including computers, monitors and professional equipment,’- said Gulsum Khalilova.
In addition to material losses, the TV channel also lost important historical materials.
‘The premises contained unique books on the history of Crimean Tatars, which the TV channel published back in 2013. These are valuable materials that testify about the struggle of our people for their identity, history and rights. Now they have been lost,’ – the editor-in-chief emphasised.
Gulsum Khalilova stressed that this attack was not just an attack on the building, but an attempt to destroy Crimean Tatar journalism.
‘The Russian regime has always tried to destroy not only our freedom of speech, but also our history, our culture, our memory. This strike is not just an attack on the building, it is an attempt to erase the voice of the Crimean Tatars in the media space. But we know that this will not happen. We will continue to work, we will continue to tell the truth, and we will fight’, – summed up Gulsum Khalilova.