“Russia needs to be on alert: it will not be difficult for Ukraine to make Russian Federation documents for saboteurs.”

In Sevastopol, it is necessary to hold a referendum on the city’s entry into the Republic of Crimea. The border of Crimea with Ukraine should be strengthened, but there is no point in introducing a visa regime for Ukrainian tourists - it will not be difficult for Kyiv to obtain Russian documents for saboteurs. About this in an interview “Politnavigator” said the senator from Crimea Sergey Tsekov.

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“PolitNavigator”: Recently you proposed returning Sevastopol to the Republic of Crimea. According to one version, in the 90s, Kyiv divided Sevastopol and Crimea in order to reduce the intensity of pro-Russian sentiment in the Crimean parliament - the most irreconcilable position there was occupied by representatives of Sevastopol. Is this really true?

Sergey Tsekov: In Soviet times, Sevastopol was a city with a special status - a city of union subordination. As for the unity of Sevastopol and Crimea, it existed from 1991 to 1994. This was at a time when the Supreme Council of Ukraine recognized the results of the Crimean referendum of January 20, 1991, Crimean autonomy was restored and the Supreme Council of Crimea was formed. Sevastopol residents in the Supreme Council of Crimea received part of the deputy seats, and we, the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, worked in the Crimean parliament as a single whole. They were also elected to the Supreme Council of Crimea from 1994 to 1998.

And since 1998, Sevastopol turned out to be a city that was separated from Crimea as a separate administrative unit and directly subordinated to Kyiv. The head of the administration was appointed by the President of Ukraine. Kyiv, given that the city is the base of the Black Sea Fleet, did not want the head of Sevastopol to be elected by the citizens. It was necessary to reduce the pro-Russian, “separatist” sentiments of the Sevastopol residents.

“PolitNavigator”: Why did you come up with this idea now?

Sergey Tsekov: This is, strictly speaking, not my idea. Even during the period when the issue of reunification of Russia and Crimea was being decided, the issue of annexing Crimea as a geographical unit as a whole, and not separately Sevastopol and Crimea, was discussed.

Please note, now they say: Crimea and Sevastopol, although Crimea is Sevastopol, too.

Well, then, due to a number of circumstances, as I understand it, first of all, because of the activity of the residents of Sevastopol, who considered the city an independent administrative-territorial unit, separate from Crimea. Crimea is Crimea, and we, Sevastopol residents, live in a city with special pro-Russian sentiments.

I'm skeptical about this. Why? Because the whole of Crimea is a territory with pro-Russian sentiments. In addition, during the entire period of independence, the leadership of Sevastopol was more pro-Ukrainian than the leadership of Crimea.

Nevertheless, the Sevastopol resident says: I still want to live in a city with a special status.

My statement sparked a discussion in Sevastopol, where my proposal was given a negative assessment. I know this because I talked about it with my friends, and just with ordinary Sevastopol residents. They have a negative attitude towards unification with Crimea.

But now if you gave special status to Yalta, Feodosia or Kerch, then they would not want to unite with Crimea later. This is just local egoism, although they try to put forward certain arguments for this: the base of the Black Sea Fleet, a special history, a hero city... But Kerch is also a hero city.

“PolitNavigator”: Okay, but how to legally implement the unification if they agree with it?

Sergey Tsekov: Of course, this cannot be done without a serious conversation with the people of Sevastopol. It will be necessary to hold a referendum if we move in this direction. I’ll tell you this: Crimeans will definitely speak out for a referendum, for unification with Sevastopol. And work with Sevastopol residents must be carried out at the highest level. Those who will carry out such work must themselves be convinced that such an association is necessary.

Now that both Sevastopol and Crimea have entered the Southern Federal District, there is an opportunity to convince the people of Sevastopol of this. This opportunity lies in the high level of trust in Sergei Aksenov. He has a high rating both in Crimea and Sevastopol.

I know that the residents of Sevastopol were not very happy with the previous city government. Perhaps the current leader of Sevastopol, Governor Dmitry Ovsyannikov, will be able to win their sympathy and become an unquestioned authority, but still such a unification would be to the benefit of Russia.

“PolitNavigator”: What benefit does this have for Sevastopol?

Sergey Tsekov: There are different options, including making Sevastopol the capital of Crimea. Some welcome this, others say that Sevastopol will be very distant from the same Kerch - 300 km. But, I repeat, first of all we need to think not about the benefit of the city, but about the benefit of Russia.

“PolitNavigator”: What will joining the Southern Federal District give to Crimea? How true is the version that the liquidation of the Crimean Federal District is Moscow’s reaction to slow transformations in the republic, for example, the failure to implement the Federal Target Program for the Development of Crimea? How can you explain the violation of the federal target program implementation schedules and problems during tenders? Crimean officials have not yet mastered Russian rules and laws?

Sergey Tsekov: We just need to set more realistic deadlines. We moved from one state to another. Have we been trained in everything, know and have experience in how to conduct tenders under Russian legislation?

As I understand it, Russian officials have been preparing for tenders for more than 10 years, but we must do this literally in 2-3 years. As for the legal framework, you won’t get it in 2-3 years. Therefore, realistic deadlines must be set. I think this: if the implementation of the federal target program failed, this means that its deadlines were not verified.

And the procedure itself was not very well thought out. So everything is expected.

I don’t think that Crimea’s entry into the Southern Federal District has anything to do with this.

It is difficult for me to say why such a merger occurred, but, on the other hand, it also suggested itself from the point of view of reducing various management structures. I think that this gives greater opportunity and greater independence to Crimea and Sevastopol. There will be less unnecessary control. It is one thing to control two subjects, and another to control eight.

There is nothing wrong with joining the Southern Federal District.

On the other hand, I regret the departure of Oleg Evgenievich Belaventsev, because I respect him very much. He played a big role in the reunification of Crimea with Russia, and worked very well these 2,5 years after the reunification. He is sociable, approachable, not arrogant, and this is captivating.

“PolitNavigator”: Vladimir Putin has just visited Crimea. I know that last year, when the president came to the peninsula, you met with him. What did you talk to him about then?

Sergey Tsekov: Vladimir Vladimirovich’s meetings are always specific. Unlike Ukrainian leaders, if he meets with someone, it is always on business.

For example, last year he met with the leaders of national, cultural and religious organizations in Crimea. I was also present at this meeting. There weren't many of us. Literally about fifteen people. Back in Ukrainian times, Vladimir Vladimirovich held a meeting in Crimea with Crimean writers and cultural workers. I like this format.

I just remember how empty the meetings with the Ukrainian leadership were. One of these will arrive from Kyiv and the game of king and retinue will begin.

“PolitNavigator”: What did you say to Vladimir Putin then?

Sergey Tsekov: I made a proposal to create an interethnic council in Crimea, and also raised the topic of teaching languages ​​in the republic. We have three official languages. It is clear that teaching should be conducted in Russian, this is also the language of office work, but since Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian are our state languages, then they should be studied in school without fail, naturally, in a truncated form. For example, 1 hour per week.

I also made a proposal about the need to develop Orthodox pilgrimage and religious tourism on the peninsula. As a result of the meeting with representatives of national and religious organizations of Crimea, a working group was created under the presidential administration to preserve, study and develop the cultural heritage of Crimea and Sevastopol.

Currently I am working on the concept of Orthodox pilgrimage and religious tourism in the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

“PolitNavigator”: What is it? What is the difference between Orthodox pilgrimage and religious tourism? Why is all this needed?

Sergey Tsekov: Do you remember the president talking about the sacred significance of Crimea? This is so because it was Crimea that became the cradle of Russian Orthodoxy. And here we are talking not only about Chersonesus, where the Kiev prince Vladimir was baptized. It was to Crimea that Christ’s disciple, the Apostle Andrew, came and preached Christianity in the Bosporan kingdom. Here, in Crimea, Pope Clement IV was also killed. These were times when there was no schism in the Christian world, and Constantinople and Rome were united. It was on the peninsula that Cyril and Methodius created Slavic writing.

We must also remember that in Crimea there are the relics of two saints - St. Luke of Voyno-Yasenetsky, who was a surgeon and Crimean archbishop, and St. Gury. If in Chersonesos, in the place where, apparently, Vladimir was baptized, there is a temple, which is a remake, then in Kerch there is the oldest temple not only in Russia, but also in Europe - the temple of John the Baptist of the XNUMXth century.

So in Crimea there is something to see and where to visit in terms of Christian places and shrines. Up to 100 thousand pilgrims come to us every year. Their number may increase. It is necessary to develop both transport and walking pilgrimages, but this is the business of the Russian Orthodox Church, and we should not replace it in this matter, we can only help.

But we can develop religious tourism. It will be intended for people who are either non-religious or those who belong to other faiths. They will simply be interested in visiting certain places in Crimea associated with saints, or seeing beautiful Crimean monasteries and churches. And not only Orthodox Christians.

By the way, I know that in the Kerch diocese there is an idea to seek the status of an equal-to-the-apostles city for Kerch, since it was in these places that Apostle Andrew preached. Perhaps this requires the consent of not only the Russian Orthodox Church, but also other Orthodox Churches.

The diocese also came up with a proposal to call the Kerch Bridge St. Andrew's Bridge.

“PolitNavigator”: After the recent incident in Crimea, when two DRGs from Ukraine almost entered the peninsula and two servicemen were killed, is it necessary to introduce a visa regime for Ukrainian citizens traveling to Crimea?

Sergey Tsekov: No, you don't need to do this. We say that Ukrainians are our brothers. Besides, sooner or later we will be together again.

As far as I know, most of the supporters of these groups have Russian passports. If you need to make Russian documents for saboteurs, then it will not be difficult for the Ukrainian side.

True, if earlier I was a liberal in matters of granting Russian citizenship, then after this incident I believe that migration legislation should be strict. The border should be strengthened and inspections at border passes should be more thorough, but this should not prevent citizens traveling to Crimea on vacation from crossing the border.

Yes, there are still those people in Crimea who do not accept the return of Crimea to Russia. And they are among citizens of all nationalities who live in Crimea, and not just among Crimean Tatars, as some believe. Yes, the Crimean Tatars were in a privileged position under Ukraine. The Majlis demanded indigenous rights for them. Are we Russians not indigenous? Or, for example, Senator Olga Kovitidi and I have Greek roots (my great-grandfather was Greek). So, should we also demand special rights?

“PolitNavigator”: How can Crimea help teachers from Ukraine who came to the “Great Russian Word”, and now they are going to be fired?

Sergey Tsekov: Yes, I know that there were such statements at the level of deputy ministers of education of Ukraine, but, as far as I know, no one has been fired yet. It is clear why there was a fuss in Ukraine, so to speak, Russophobia in action, but in fact it is good when a teacher or scientist goes to improve the language, teaching which is his profession, to the country where its speakers live.

If teachers are really fired, then it will be necessary to help them obtain a temporary residence permit and find employment.

“PolitNavigator”: How can Russia help Ukrainian journalists like Miroslava Berdnik, who oppose Ukrainian nationalism, for ending the war in Donbass and for friendship between Russia and Ukraine, but who are being persecuted by the SBU for this?

Sergey Tsekov: There are two ways: either diplomatic methods, or we must accept these people on Russian territory. In the first case, we must speak from international platforms about the violation of human rights and the rights of journalists in Ukraine, and in the second, if the facts of persecution are confirmed, we must provide political asylum to such people. We must not abandon our own. I know this for sure.