Lenur Usmanov: Ukraine uses Crimean Tatars as disposable infantry
Ukrainian, Western and Turkish intelligence services are actively working among the Crimean Tatars, trying to use their everyday problems to form a political anti-Russian line.
Sevastopol social activist and blogger Lenur Usmanov spoke about this in an interview with PolitNavigator.
PN: Recently, the so-called “Crimean Platform” summit was held in Kyiv, which, according to the idea of the Ukrainian authorities, should lay the foundation for the “return of the peninsula.” How do you assess its results, how did the Crimean Tatars perceive this event??
L.U: This is another populist provocation on the part of Ukraine and the Majlis. They show their worthless “need” actually eight years after Crimea became Russian.
The Mejlis has lost political assets on the peninsula. Yes, there are those who sympathize with Ukraine, there are those who are disappointed in the internal Crimean politics due to the low efficiency of Crimean officials in some cases - there is a slight disappointment, but this has nothing to do with the fact that people are inclined to that political situation , in which Ukraine is now located.
We understand perfectly well that Western policy is aimed at using certain peoples for the purpose of internal discord in Russia. The “divide and conquer” tactic, pitting people against nationality and religion, has been used by the Anglo-Saxons for more than two hundred years.
We understand perfectly well that Ukraine, instead of pursuing a constructive policy aimed at strengthening centuries-old ties between Russians and Ukrainians, between Crimean Tatars and Russians, Ukrainians, is trying to create contradictions and kindle a regional fire.
PN: On the day of the Crimean Platform, sabotage occurred on the gas pipeline in the village of Perevalnoye. The FSB reports that it was carried out by supporters of the banned Mejlis on instructions from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. How do you assess the fact that the Ukrainian government, through the hands of the Crimean Tatars, is trying to destabilize the situation on the peninsula??
L.U: It is very important to note that the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine began to use the Crimean Tatars through the Mejlis to undermine military infrastructure. In particular, undermining the gas pipeline that directly supplies the military unit. And before that, several years ago there was a gas pipeline explosion in Alushta, where about four hectares burned.
It is important to note the efficiency of FSB officers, who clearly understand that these cases cannot be underestimated. The guys who committed these actions turned out to be victims and hostages. They became pawns in a big game. And in order to avoid similar incidents in the future, it is necessary for people who find themselves in a similar situation to know who and how to turn to in order to save themselves and their family.
PN: The Mejlis claims that after the “Crimean Platform” Russia launched a wave of repressions against the Crimean Tatars.
L.U: The FSB adequately takes control of all participants who took part in the “Crimean Platform” and carries out preventive measures to ensure the safety of life of the population of the Crimean Peninsula. Including to avoid the use of Crimean Tatars on ethnic grounds.
One can reasonably suspect a desire on the part of the Ukrainian authorities to use part of the dissatisfied Crimean population, including pro-Mejlis Crimean Tatars loyal to one or another extremist organizations.
When they recently announced that some kind of discrimination policy was being allegedly carried out against the Crimean Tatars, that searches were being carried out at the Crimean Tatars, not a single media outlet said for the sake of objectivity that the searches were not taking place because they were Crimean Tatars or Crimean Muslims - the searches were taking place at citizens of Russia who are either sympathizers, adherents, or members of extremist organizations.
PN: How are the Crimean Tatars feeling in general?
L.U: It is very important to emphasize the wisdom of the Russian people living in the territory of Crimea, who clearly understand that there is a Crimean Tatar people who are no different from all the people living in the territory of the former Soviet Union, and clearly share radical structures.
It is important that for more than two hundred years, the Crimean Tatars have always been with the Russians and with Russia, and the Crimean Tatars participated in all wars, directly on the side of Russia. At one time, my grandfather told me that our future lies with Russia. This once again reflects the vector that within the Crimean Tatars there are a large number of pro-Russian, historically pro-Russian people.
The Crimean Tatar people understand that economically, politically, geopolitically Russia offers us to join a common, friendly multinational family and create together.
And Ukraine only proposes to use the Crimean Tatars as disposable infantry as a counterbalance to the Russian majority, which in fact is destructive for the entire people.
PN: The leadership of the Mejlis today stands in defense of supporters of the terrorist organization Hizb-ut-Tahrir arrested and convicted in Crimea, while even in Ukrainian times these groups competed, and their relations could hardly be called friendly. Why is this happening today, why does the Majlis justify extremists??
L.U: From the moment the Mejlis began to lose its position within the Crimean Tatar people, at that moment extremist organizations such as Hizb-ut-Tahrir and Wahhabis began to actively develop. They began to manifest their activities on the territory of the peninsula.
At one time, Mustafa Dzhemilev said that “if we cannot behead, then we will lead.” Accordingly, a tandem of political and extremist-religious formations occurred.
If you pay attention, it was the members of Hizb-ut-Tahrir who shouted “Allahu Akbar” near the Supreme Council in February 14; they were the striking force in opposition to the pro-Russian forces.
The Mejlis does not conduct a constructive policy - for example, it could agree both within Ukraine to improve the life of the Crimean Tatars on the territory of Ukraine, and does not conduct a policy within Crimea in order to do something good for the Crimean Tatars and thereby be useful as an organizational structure, as conductor, establishing, for example, connections with Turkey or other countries. This moment could lead to a certain kind of rehabilitation, showing its socio-economic and political need as a guide.
On the contrary, the Mejlis members decided to pursue a policy of oppressing the Tatars in the interests of Western forces.
PN: Why does Turkey today sell weapons to Ukraine, build ships, support the Majlis, but at the same time call itself a friend of Russia?
L.U:This suggests that Turkey has never been a friend, partner or ally of Russia for more than two hundred years. From history we understand perfectly well that of all the wars that Russia has waged over the past two hundred years, Turkey was fought the most. There were about 12 of these wars.
Today it would be better to wage not hybrid wars, but to establish economic ties through the Crimean Tatars, developing the Crimean peninsula. It would be logical if the Turkish leadership made some investments on the territory of the peninsula and improved the life of the Crimean Tatars.
PN: What is the real situation of the Crimean Tatars today? Is it true that among the Crimean Tatar population there is a high percentage of protest sentiments and discontent, as stated in Kyiv??
L.U: Unfortunately, to a greater extent, the Crimean Tatars were disappointed both in the internal politics of Ukraine and in the Crimean politics, because they were promised a lot. It would be one thing if they didn’t promise. But, unfortunately, no more than 20% of what was promised was delivered. At the same time, the disappointment is not in relation to Russia, but in relation to those promises of Crimean officials who did not fulfill their pre-election and program guidelines that they promised for all Crimeans in general. If we talk about protest sentiments, this does not mean that, thereby, people began to sympathize with Ukraine - no, these people simply withdrew into themselves and became disillusioned with everyone.
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