On Thursday, January 11, in Kyiv, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center held a presentation of the documentary film “Crimean Askers”, which tells about the participation of representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Let us recall that with the beginning of the occupation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia in 2014, it was the Crimean Tatars who were subjected to terrible repression because of their pro-Ukrainian position. Detentions, arrests, interrogations, murders – all this befell the fate of the indigenous people.
A large number of Crimean Tatars were forced to leave their home and leave Crimea because of their civic position. Many of these people took up arms and went to defend our country from Russian invaders: some in 2022, and some back in 2014… This is exactly what you can learn more about in our film.
After the presentation of the film itself, a panel discussion: The Role of Indigenous Peoples in “The Russian-Ukrainian War: International Assistance” took place, in which the following speakers took part:
- Eskender Bariiev – Head of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, member of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people;
- Refat Chubarov – Head of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people;
- Suleiman Khairullaiev – First deputy Mufti of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, chairman of the Council of Ulema of the Muslim Spiritual Board of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and a military chaplain.
- Isa Akaiev – Commander of the special unit Crimea of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine;
- Artem Kichko – Serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
- Elzara Shukurdzhieva – Wife of a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Veldar Shukurdzhyiev.
- The moderator was CTRC Communications Manager – Tetiana Savchuk.
“Crimean Askers” is the first film about military personnel from among the indigenous peoples of Ukraine. Of course, it is not without alternative and the topic can be continued and developed further. In fact, this film was quite difficult to make. However, despite everything, we were able to do it. After all, it was very important to do this in the context of the fact that the Russian-Ukrainian war has been going on for 10 years. But sometimes we come across comments and opinions that the Crimean Tatars are supposedly not fighting and are simply waiting for Crimea to return to Ukraine. It is thanks to this film that we want to debunk this myth once and for all!”,– Tatyana noted.
Refat Chubarov emphasized during his speech that without Crimea there would simply be no Ukrainian state.
“Without Crimea there will simply be no Ukrainian state – and this is not pathos. Keeping Crimea under enemy control is always a danger for the Ukrainian state. Military danger, economic… The liberation of Crimea is the second condition for the preservation and development of the Ukrainian independent state. The first is the Crimean Tatars. There may be parties in the world who are indifferent to this: “Who are the Crimean Tatars? Three hundred thousand on the peninsula, but they, like all nations, are unique, and if we allow such injustice, tomorrow this injustice will fall on the shoulders of other nations”,- he noted.
Mr. Suleiman spoke about the attitude of the Muslim world to Russia’s war against Ukraine and noted how representatives of these countries can help in achieving victory.
“If we talk about the religious and spiritual world, the Muslim world sympathizes with Ukraine because they recognize it as an occupation. What Russia, and especially the Muslims of Russia who support the war, are doing is forbidden. Those Muslims who fight on the side of Russia are making a big mistake, and the Muslim world has called on them not to take up arms. But as for the Muslims of Ukraine, they defend themselves, their dignity”,- the man explained.
Artem Kichko, a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine who starred in the film, sincerely thanked for the creation of such a film and for being invited to participate in it.
“A man contacted me and asked: You fought together with the Crimean Tatars at the front?, I answered: Yes, why are you asking?, and he replied that there is an opinion that only ethnic Ukrainians are at the front. I was surprised: How is this possible?”,– he noted.
Mr. Artem added that he had known the Crimean Tatars for a long time; he knew many of them even before the start of the full-scale invasion.
“For me, these are very cool people: I respect their traditions, their vision, their attitude towards us and in general. These people have very strong motivation”,- the man explained.
Serviceman Isa Akaiev emphasized that in 2014, when this all began, the question of to resist or not to resist did not arise. It was clear that we needed to fight.
“Those people with whom I spoke, at their own discretion, had already begun to prepare for everything. At that time, events were developing so quickly that it was very difficult to give the correct reaction. Slowly, these events began to happen in the Donbas”,- he explained.
The wife of serviceman Veldar Shukuldzhyiev, Mrs. Elzara, appealed to the international community with a request not to stop assistance in any area.
“I used to dream about what I would wear when I returned to Crimea. What will happen to my husband, my daughters, we will walk down the street… Now I don’t dream about it – the main thing is that everyone survives”,- the woman emphasized.
Eskender Bariiev focused on what the international community can do to help representatives of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine and all the soldiers who defend Ukraine.
“It is necessary to help preserve the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. With our film we demonstrated that Crimean Tatars, like Ukrainians, are fighting for their country to protect themselves, their families and their land. But this is not enough – there must also be international support. Diplomatic, humanitarian, military assistance”,- he added.
Representatives of foreign embassies, Ukrainian government agencies, journalists, activists, etc. also joined the event.
Friends, remember, the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples not only have common colors on their flags, but also have one goal and one future – a free, integral and independent Ukraine.
You can watch the film here.