Crimean Tatars: Activists Name Conditions for Restoration of Energy Supply to Crimea
On 26 November 2015, the representative of the Crimean Tatars, Mr Mustafa Dzhemilev, specified the conditions for ending the energy blockade imposed to the occupied peninsula. Among the Crimean Tatars’ requests is the immediate release of Mr Ahtem Chiygoz and other key figures. Deputy Head of the Mejlis, Mr Chiygoz was accused of organizing “mass disturbances” during the pseudo-referendum held in February 2014 by the Russian authorities. Only essential services and government offices are operating in Crimea since key electricity pylons supplying the peninsula from Ukraine were damaged by activists opposing the Russian annexation.
Below is an article published by Ukraine Today
MP Mustafa Dzhemilev: The release of captive Crimean Tatars among most important demands
Crimeans Tatars have named the conditions for restoring power to the Russian-occupied peninsula. Mustafa Dzhemilev, a Ukrainian MP and Crimean Tatar representative, layed out the demands.
He said Ahtem Chiygoz, the deputy head of the Crimean Tatar representative assembly the Mejlis should be released along with other key figures.
Chiygoz is accused of organizing mass disturbances on February 26 last year prior to Russia's pseudo-referendum and illegal annexation of the region.
At the same time, according to Dzhemilev, the Crimean Tatars believe that the energy blockade should continue.
Engineers have begun to repair one of the four sabotaged electricity lines. However, activists demand power supplies not be resumed.
One activist told us, "We will be on guard and we will keep a watchful eye to ensure that the separatists, the traitors and the Russian military will not get the electricity."
They're angry over persecution of their indigenous population by the Kremlin-appointed authorities and, what they say, the "business as usual" attitude by officials in Kyiv. Since then, people in Crimea have been relying on emergency generators to meet its basic power needs - although this is not enough to meet demand.
Photo courtesy of UNIAN
