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DISINFO: Reunification with Russia paved the way for Tatar’s language in Crimea

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

Tags:

illegal annexation Occupation Tatars Human rights Manipulated elections/referendum Crimean Tatars Crimea

DISINFO: Reunification with Russia paved the way for Tatar’s language in Crimea

SUMMARY

The Crimean Tatar people did not acquire their official language, which they were deprived of during the Ukrainian era, not until after the reunification of Crimea with Russia, and they obtained legal possession of mosques, which was opposed by Kyiv, and they obtained protection from the hostile extremist sects that fought them for many years and were liberated of stirring up hostility with the rest of the population of the peninsula, which was fueled by the Ukrainian capital.

RESPONSE

Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Crimea and its illegal annexation. Crimea was annexed by Russia following an illegitimate referendum on March 16 2014, following the deployment of “little green men” across the peninsula beginning in February 2014. Read more about Crimea's annexation here. The status of 16 Crimean-Tatar language schools has been altered since the annexation. Seven preserved instruction in Crimean-Tatar, while five have been transformed to instil instruction in Russian. Four have been designated schools that offer a “general education.” Practically all Ukrainian TV-channels have been switched off and replaced by Russian state-controlled broadcasting. The EU has also reaffirmed its deep concern at the deterioration of the human rights situation in the Crimean peninsula, including the denial of freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of religion and belief, and the persecution of persons belonging to minorities, in particular the Crimean Tatars. Human rights defenders recorded in just one year, hundreds of illegal searches, detentions and arrests and dozens of cases for political reasons were recorded in Crimea. 70% of all Crimean prisoners for political reasons are Crimean Tatars. According to Freedom House, Russia used coercion to increase the participation of Crimeans in Russian elections; the Crimean Tatars are being repressed and the Mejlis - an organisation representing the Crimean Tatars - was banned; the Russian FSB use intimidation and harassment to eliminate opposition to Russian occupation; a forced Russification is ongoing (including making anything connected to Ukraine a taboo), and rights to freedom of association are severely restricted. The UN continues to document violations of international human rights and humanitarian law perpetrated by the Russian Federation, as the occupying Power, including deportations of protected persons, forced conscription and restrictions on freedom of expression. Read similar cases claiming that Crimean Tatars in Simferopol enjoy the freedom of speech and that leader of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev is a terrorist, or that historical Crimean Russian land returned, that over 95% of Crimea voted to be part of Russia and that Crimea never belonged to Ukraine.

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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