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 sentiments of the Crimean Tatars who have decided to accept the peninsula's reunification with Russia? Deputy Speaker of the Republic's State Council, Remzi Ilyasov , a former leader of the Mejlis, discusses this in an interview with PolitNavigator .
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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 learned later that they refused to speak with Putin. Before the national congress of Crimean Tatars, the kurultai of the Crimean Tatar people, as I learned later, a request was conveyed that the kurultai elect a group of Crimean Tatars to meet with the President of the Russian Federation. This was not done and was not even communicated to 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 insult him... 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, right down to what they promised the people—they'd return Crimea in two months—and he went along with 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: This is precisely what's being presented by extremists and politicians—not Crimean Tatars—trying to distort the situation in every possible way and imply that everything the Mejlis does is also the people's work. We oppose this and have made several statements that it has nothing to do with the Crimean Tatar people, and that our flag belongs to the people, not the Mejlis or any other organization. Therefore, this is unacceptable. With this in mind, we adopted a program that spells out what our flag is and what it signifies. At the end, there's a note: "No organization has the right to claim this as 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, and we must always be vigilant. The state's primary responsibility is to ensure the protection of its citizens. There are several dozen "Grey Wolves" there, including about fifteen Crimean Tatars. We understand, using modern warfare methods, that they pose no danger, but we must be extremely vigilant. Certainly, the preventive measures being taken at the direction of the President of the Russian Federation are highly relevant and necessary today, ensuring that people constantly feel safe and secure.
“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—it's people-to-people diplomacy. We've always said that only the Crimean Tatars living in their homeland know how they live, what problems need to be addressed, and only they can make the final decisions regarding the situation of their people. All other Crimean Tatars living outside Crimea are a diaspora, 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: I once suggested sitting down and trying to discuss this issue, because there are so many events that affect their psycho-emotional state. And this monument is further devastating for the Crimean Tatars. I made the suggestion, but unfortunately, no dialogue took place, so I don't support its installation. And the majority of Crimean Tatars don't support the installation of a monument to Catherine. The timing isn't right. If only everything were resolved, but we have so many problems, provocations, so many things we're trying to resolve, we've come up with the idea: why not erect a monument to the first Crimean Khan, who established 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, the preparation of new bills that would ease the situation for Crimean Tatars in certain specific areas. For example, according to various estimates, 5-6 Crimean Tatars have been on the peninsula for several years now and cannot obtain residency permits. The problem is that the law hasn't been passed. These people are being held here manually. These and a number of other issues would make it clear that the presidential decree is being fully implemented. This applies to rehabilitation certificates, language, land issues, toponymy, and so on. Balbek isn't the only one who can help with this; we'll be reaching out to all our deputies. But, of course, he'll be held accountable.
English version :: Read in English Vice Speaker of the State Council of Crimea Remzi Ilyasov: They played a cruel game with Islyamov... I don't want to insult him