Crimean Tatars: Prominent Journalist Banned from Entering Crimea
Crimean Tatar journalist Ismet Yuksel who is actively working on various projects in order to bring back to life the Crimean Tatar language and culture was not allowed to enter Crimea upon return from mainland Ukraine on 9 August 2014. Yuksel thus became the third prominent Crimean Tatar to be banned from entering the peninsula for a period of five years since the annexation of Crimea by Russia, along with Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Jemilev and head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, Refat Chubarov. Yuksel was given no particular reason for the decision of the de facto Crimean authorities.
Below is an article published by Worldbulletin:
Qirim News Agency general coordinator Ismet Yuksel has become the third prominent Crimean Tatar to be barred since the annexation of Crimea by Russia, along with Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Jemilev and head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, Refat Chubarov.
Ismet Yuksel, the general coordinator of Qirim News Agency, has been banned from entering Crimea for five years after being turned back on August 9th [2014] when he tried to enter Crimea from mainland Ukraine.
The new Russian authorities gave Yuksel no reason when he was turned away along with his family as they were returning from Turkey.
Yuksel thus became the third prominent Crimean Tatar to be barred since the annexation of Crimea by Russia, along with Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Jemilev and head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis (Parliament) Refat Chubarov.
Commenting the ban for Ismet Yuksel, Chubarov wrote on his Facebook page: “Ismet Yuksel is one of the most active public figure, working on many projects to revive Crimean Tatar language and culture, in assistance with the Crimean Tatar diaspora in Turkey.”
Yuksel, who also serves as an advisor to the Mejlis on relations with Turkey, has been living in Crimea for 20 years.
