The Russian authorities have always imposed the myth that Crimea is originally a Russian land, because Russians predominate among its population. Not only the ethnic composition of the Crimean population, but also Crimean Tatar toponyms were forcibly changed. Thus, Aqmescit became Simferopol, Kezlev became Yevpatoria, Kefe became Feodosia, Qarasuvbazar became Belogorsk, and the large Crimean Tatar settlement Aqyar became Sevastopol.
In addition to the names of settlements, the names of railway stations, streets, and historical and cultural objects were changed. Attempts were made to rename mountains and rivers.
The occupiers are trying as hard as they can to erase the connection between the indigenous peoples of Crimea and the peninsula, and to rewrite the real history of Crimea.
You can learn more about this in a short video released by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center.
#decolonization_of_Crimea’s_toponymy
The #LIBERATECRIMEA campaign was presented by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center as part of the ENGAGE Program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by Pact in Ukraine. The content of the campaign is the sole responsibility of Pact and its partners and does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the US Government.