Crimean Tarters consider referendum on Russian annexation
- 10 years ago
Crimea’s indigenous Tarters are considering their own referendum in the wake of Russia’s annexation of the region.
Refat Chubarov the head of the 250 strong Tarter assembly says the body will discuss the move on Saturday: “There are 300,000 of us here in Crimea. Not as numerous as ethnic Russians or even ethnic Ukrainians, but this is our land, we do not have any other land beyond Crimea. No one asked us before the referendum or before the troops invaded how we wanted to live, under what conditions”
Crimean Tarters distrust Moscow following the mass deportation of their ancestors by Soviet authorities in 1944.
The March 16 referendum was largely boycotted by the Tarters.
Tarters are Sunni Muslims and make up less than 15 per cent of the peninsula’s 2 million people.
Refat Chubarov the head of the 250 strong Tarter assembly says the body will discuss the move on Saturday: “There are 300,000 of us here in Crimea. Not as numerous as ethnic Russians or even ethnic Ukrainians, but this is our land, we do not have any other land beyond Crimea. No one asked us before the referendum or before the troops invaded how we wanted to live, under what conditions”
Crimean Tarters distrust Moscow following the mass deportation of their ancestors by Soviet authorities in 1944.
The March 16 referendum was largely boycotted by the Tarters.
Tarters are Sunni Muslims and make up less than 15 per cent of the peninsula’s 2 million people.