Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre, member of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Eskender Bariiev reported another attempt by the Russian occupation authorities to consolidate their control over Crimea through the distribution of land plots to the Russian military.
According to him, the occupiers have announced plans to provide land on the peninsula to war participants from any region of Russia, regardless of their place of residence or registration, provided they sign a contract with the Russian Defence Ministry.
‘This is an attempt to attract more people to the war by offering favourable conditions for participation in combat operations, in particular land in Crimea. At the same time, Crimeans have virtually no access to obtaining land plots, except for large families or military personnel who support Russia’s aggression,’ -said Bariiev.
This policy is part of a broader strategy to forcibly change the demographic composition of the peninsula, aimed at displacing the local population and strengthening Russia’s military presence. Such a decision is a gross violation of international law and shows Russia’s intention to consolidate its presence in the region for a long term.
Bariiev also drew attention to the fact that among those who can claim land in Crimea are former prisoners released in exchange for participation in the war against Ukraine. He cited examples of criminals who committed new crimes after returning from the war:
- Andrei Bykov
Since 1991, he has been behind bars six times, including for murder. When the SMO began, he enlisted in Storm Z. He was captured and then put on the exchange list.
He returned to his native Kuzbass… and killed a 12-year-old girl. Bykov tied her to a tree, raped her, strangled her with his trousers, and hid her body in the well of an abandoned building.
2. Ivan Rossomakhin
In 2020, he received 14 years for murder and robbery. He was then released for killing Ukrainians. In March 2023, returned home. Raped and murdered an 85 year old pensioner. Got 23 years, but a week after his sentence he was released again to fight in the war.
3. Alexander Tumakov
In 2016, sentenced to 11 years for robbery and murder of a child. At the end of 2022 he got into the PMC ‘Wagner’. After returning from the war, killed a mother with many children and burned her body in the car. Received 7 years.
At the same time, the occupation authorities of Crimea continue repressions against Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians, sentencing them to dozens of years in prison on false charges and illegally deporting them outside the peninsula.