Moscow - Simferopol, December 1 (PolitNavigator, Mikhail Stamm) - Experts interviewed by Kommersant were skeptical about the initiative of the "Unity of Crimea" movement of ex-regional Seytumer Nimetullaev to create their own, not pro-Ukrainian, Mejlis.
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The organization “Unity of Crimea” was registered on the peninsula at the beginning of summer. Its chairman, former head of the administration of the Genichesk district of the Kherson region, Seytumer Nimetullayev, moved to Crimea after the change of power in Ukraine.
Yesterday’s meeting of the “Unity of Crimea” had to be moved from the center of Simferopol to the outskirts. “We had paid for a hall at the Crimean Drama Theater, but before the meeting the theater refused us without explanation,” said "Kommersant" Nimetullaev. “Deputy Prime Minister of Crimea Ruslan Balbek told me that he will not allow us to hold this event.” According to Mr. Nimetullaev, the authorities “interfered with the event” because they are relying on the social movement of the Crimean Tatars “Crimea”. Its formation is being carried out by the speaker of the State Council of the republic, former Mejlis member Remzi Ilyasov.
As a result, the council meeting was held in the premises of one of the car dealerships on the outskirts of Simferopol. At it, about 300 delegates approved an appeal to Putin and Erdogan, expressing support for “Putin’s policy on the peninsula and towards the Crimean Tatars” and calling on the heads of state to “strengthen friendship between Russia and Turkey.” Nimetullaev said that in October 2015 his organization plans to hold elections to the new Kurultai.
Political scientist Andrei Nikiforov doubts that Nimetullaev, “who is poorly known in Crimea, will be able to attract a significant part of the Crimean Tatars to the Kurultai elections.” Nikiforov noted that the Crimean authorities have already relied on the “Crimea” social movement.