Tatars fear for the future in Crimea
- 10 years ago
The call to prayer in Crimea.
Here in this Tatar enclave memories run deep. They were nearly wiped out on Moscow's orders, first by the czars and then by the Soviets.
With bitter memories of their treatment by Russia, this Muslim community has long prided itself on loyalty to Ukraine
With Russia moving in on Crimea -- they are worried.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HEAD OF TATAR AUTHORITY BODY IN BAKHCHISARAY, CHIIGOZ AKHTEM, SAYING:
"We have serious concerns, given the experience of similar operations conducted by Russia before. They are always marred with ethnic cleansing. So we are have let the international community know that we have great concerns of similar methods being repeated. We feel it very strongly, this internal tension. But I think with the help of Allah we will survive this as well."
It is clear that none of the Tatars here plan to vote for annexation to Russia at the March 16 referendum.
Tatars make up about 12 percent of Crimeas popu
Here in this Tatar enclave memories run deep. They were nearly wiped out on Moscow's orders, first by the czars and then by the Soviets.
With bitter memories of their treatment by Russia, this Muslim community has long prided itself on loyalty to Ukraine
With Russia moving in on Crimea -- they are worried.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) HEAD OF TATAR AUTHORITY BODY IN BAKHCHISARAY, CHIIGOZ AKHTEM, SAYING:
"We have serious concerns, given the experience of similar operations conducted by Russia before. They are always marred with ethnic cleansing. So we are have let the international community know that we have great concerns of similar methods being repeated. We feel it very strongly, this internal tension. But I think with the help of Allah we will survive this as well."
It is clear that none of the Tatars here plan to vote for annexation to Russia at the March 16 referendum.
Tatars make up about 12 percent of Crimeas popu