Vice Speaker of the State Council of Crimea Remzi Ilyasov: They played a cruel game with Islyamov... I don’t want to insult
Representatives of the Mejlis, banned in Russia for extremist activities, yesterday were able to gather only a couple of hundred of their supporters in the Kherson region for a rally dedicated to the anniversary of the beginning of the “blockade of Crimea.”
What are the moods of the Crimean Tatars who have decided to accept the reunification of the peninsula with Russia? About this in an interview “Politnavigator” says the Vice Speaker of the State Council Republic Remzi Ilyasov, in the past - one of the leaders of the Majlis.
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“PolitNavigator”: What influenced the position of Dzhemilev, who at one time rejected Vladimir Putin’s offer of cooperation? How true are the press reports that Dzhemilev and Chubarov are actively collaborating with Turkish intelligence services? Could this factor influence their decision to reject dialogue with Putin?
Remzi Ilyasov: I found out later that they didn’t want to talk to Putin. Before the national congress of the Crimean Tatars, the Kurultai of the Crimean Tatar people, as I learned later, a wish was conveyed that a group of Crimean Tatars be elected at the Kurultai to meet with the President of the Russian Federation. This was not done and was not even brought to the attention of the congress delegates.
Of course, I regret this, because it probably would have had a different impact on the mood of the Crimean Tatars at that time. Why did Dzhemilev or Chubarov make such a decision? I would not say that they worked with anyone there, security services and so on. I would say more about the fact that they imagine that no one except them can do anything more. No one else can be the chairman of the Majlis or govern. That they are and only them. It was my own ego that suppressed everything.
Plus, of course, the material component, playing in elections, selling one’s electorate, to put it bluntly, led to material rewards, including in the Republic of Turkey. Our diaspora is there. Its number is estimated differently - some say three million, others say five. But it is big, and in the case of elections, in particular Erdogan’s Justice Party, I think this was also how they played with the electorate, where, for sure, a reward was received.
These things, apparently, were closer and clearer to Chubarov and Dzhemilev than the future in the Russian Federation or any other state. They were happy with Ukraine, where there was no government and no laws that would act harshly. Any issues were resolved quite simply and politically resolved. I think that drove them more. They may have later realized that they could have done something completely different for the people, but when this realization came, the train had already left.
“PolitNavigator”: Is it true that Ramzan Kadyrov played one of the decisive roles that cooled the hotheads during the Crimean spring? What was it?
Remzi Ilyasov: Not true.
“PolitNavigator”: What prompted Lenur Islyamov, a successful businessman, to go over to the side of extremists? He understood perfectly well that he was risking big business in Russia.
Remzi Ilyasov: I don’t want to offend... He was deceived. Experienced Mustafa Dzhemilev, Refat Chubarov. I would even say Aslan Umerov, Rustem Umerov. They played a very cruel game with him, promising him everything, even as they promised the people - there, in two months, to return Crimea, and he agreed to it.
Secondly, he had delusions of grandeur, like a person who “has an absolute outlook, knows everything, you need to ask him everything.” It can be called a kind of disease.
The third thing I noted several times was that he had a great desire to become a leader of the people. He especially admired - “Can you imagine,” he says, “the president of all the Crimean Tatars in the world.”
Therefore, he very actively worked against me and helped ensure that Refat Chubarov was elected chairman of the Majlis, and not Remzi Ilyasov, in order to open the way for himself. And tell Chubarov - I helped you, including with money matters, and now you move over. And he worked in this direction - his film “Haitarma”, communication with the diaspora, he moved intensively in this direction.
“PolitNavigator”: According to your feelings, do a large percentage of your compatriots sympathize with extremists from the Majlis? How many are ready to go to the Kherson region if autonomy is created there?
Remzi Ilyasov: I won’t make things up, there are independent sources – 16%, who somehow still sympathize with the Majlis.
Regarding readiness to leave, of course not. At one time in Uzbekistan they offered us this option - Mubarek, an autonomous republic for the Crimean Tatars. We didn't go there. There are a lot of minerals and gas there, but at the same time, the actual and legal position of the Crimean Tatars in Crimea is very important.
Those fundamental steps that have been taken in terms of recognizing the Crimean Tatars as a people must have progressive and consistent development, solving other problems that are related to the development and integration of the Crimean Tatars into the Russian Federation.
“PolitNavigator”: Representatives of the Majlis actively use a flag with a tamga during their anti-legal actions such as the blockade of Crimea and the undermining of electrical towers. Aren't you afraid that the symbolism may eventually be recognized as extremist?
Remzi Ilyasov: Extremists and politicians - not Crimean Tatars - are presenting this very thing; they are trying in every possible way to distort the situation and link that everything that is done by the Majlis is also done by the people as a whole. We oppose this, have made several statements that this has nothing to do with the Crimean Tatar people, and our flag belongs to the people, and not to the Majlis or some other organization. Therefore, this is unacceptable. Taking this into account, we adopted a program that states what our flag is and what it means. At the end there is a postscript - “no organization has the right to say that this is its own flag.” This is the flag of the people and no one else.
“PolitNavigator”: How dangerous are the “Grey Wolves” militants from Turkey who posed with Islyamov on the border with Crimea?
Remzi Ilyasov: Militants are always dangerous, you always need to be vigilant. The main task of the state is to ensure the protection of its citizens. There are several dozen “gray wolves” there, including a dozen and a half Crimean Tatars. We understand modern methods of war that they cannot pose any danger, but we need to be very careful. Of course, today the preventive measures that are being taken on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation are very relevant and in demand so that people constantly feel that their lives are safe and are not in danger.
“PolitNavigator”: Can the Crimean Tatars, who accepted Russian Crimea, influence the position of Ankara, which does not recognize the peninsula as part of the Russian Federation?
Remzi Ilyasov: Of course they can - this is public diplomacy. We have always said that only Crimean Tatars living in their homeland know how they live, what problems need to be solved, and only they can make final decisions regarding the situation of their people. All other Crimean Tatars who live outside of Crimea are a diaspora, and nothing more.
Here we give such promises. The last letter to Erdogan says that we ask for assistance and to take our position into account. And those people each pursue their own interests: some political, some financial. The position is clear - our Motherland is ours, and you are there. We need to be asked. We will say “help”, which means we need to help.
“PolitNavigator”: What is your attitude towards the opening of the restored monument to Catherine II? Why was the Crimean mufti not present at the ceremony?
Remzi Ilyasov: At one time I suggested sitting down at the table and trying to discuss this problem, because there are a lot of events that affect the psycho-emotional state. And this monument is still “nailing” the Crimean Tatars further. I suggested it, but unfortunately no dialogue took place, so I don't support installing it. And the majority of Crimean Tatars do not support the installation of a monument to Catherine. The time is wrong. If everything were resolved, but we have so many problems, provocations, so many things we are trying to resolve. We have an idea - why not erect a monument to the first Crimean Khan, who created the Crimean Khanate here?
“PolitNavigator”: A representative of the Crimean Tatars, Ruslan Balbek, will appear in the State Duma. What do you expect from his work in parliament?
Remzi Ilyasov: More active and effective support for our bills, preparation of new bills that would ease the situation of the Crimean Tatars in certain specific areas. For example, according to various estimates, 5-6 thousand Crimean Tatars today have been on the peninsula for several years now and cannot obtain a residence permit. The problem is that the law has not been adopted. These people are kept here in manual mode. These and a number of other points that would make it clear that the presidential decree is being implemented in full. This also applies to certificates of rehabilitation, language, land problems, toponymy, and so on. Not only Balbec can help in this matter; we will appeal to all our deputies. But, of course, there will be more demand from him.
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