Crimean Tartar leader hopes for early end to occupation
- 10 years ago
A ceremony in Kiev to commemorate 70 years since Joseph Stalin deported Tatars from Crimea.
The service comes after Crimean authorities banned a mass mourning march.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled to the Crimean Tatars that they must accept their future within Russia -- after Moscow annexed their Black Sea homeland from Ukraine in March.
The spiritual leader of the Tatars wants no part of it.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE CRIMEAN TATARS, MUSTAFA DZHEMILEV, SAYING:
"Opinions differ as to how long this occupation will last. We really hope it won't be for long. We hope that with the efforts of the international community together with the democratic forces of Ukraine that we will shorten this occupation to the minimum. And, I hope that in the nearest future Crimean Tatars will have a new date to celebrate, that of the end of occupation."
Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk says the Tatars are resilient.
The service comes after Crimean authorities banned a mass mourning march.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled to the Crimean Tatars that they must accept their future within Russia -- after Moscow annexed their Black Sea homeland from Ukraine in March.
The spiritual leader of the Tatars wants no part of it.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) SPIRITUAL LEADER OF THE CRIMEAN TATARS, MUSTAFA DZHEMILEV, SAYING:
"Opinions differ as to how long this occupation will last. We really hope it won't be for long. We hope that with the efforts of the international community together with the democratic forces of Ukraine that we will shorten this occupation to the minimum. And, I hope that in the nearest future Crimean Tatars will have a new date to celebrate, that of the end of occupation."
Ukraine's Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk says the Tatars are resilient.