Crimean authorities are unable to control the mood of the Tatars - expert

​The ban on the traditional funeral meeting of the Crimean Tatars on May 18 in Simferopol caused discontent even among pro-Russian Tatar organizations. The officials appointed by Moscow as the “leaders” of Crimea are not confident in themselves, experts say: Aksenov was accused of failing to prevent possible anti-government or anti-Russian protests at the event.

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Mejlis Presidium member Ali Khamzin told Kommersant that the rally should have been held in any case, as it honors the memory of the victims of deportation, and the decree rehabilitating Crimean Tatars was "declarative." "Local authorities are afraid we'll come and talk about our problems. They don't want that, because they've already resolved all the Crimean Tatars' problems on paper," he said. "We're used to gathering on May 18th to honor the memory of the dead and meet with the living. I don't understand who we could have interfered with by doing so," said Seitumer Nimetullaev, head of the Crimean Unity public organization. Elzara Islyamova, CEO of the ATR television channel, believes that the tradition of holding a memorial rally on May 18th never "carried any danger." According to Vasvi Abduraimov, leader of the public organization "Milli Firka," the ban "causes a negative attitude among Crimean Tatars toward the government."

Last year, Crimean Tatars were also not allowed to hold a rally on May 18 in the center of Simferopol.

Director of the Institute of CIS Countries in Crimea, Andrei Nikiforov, believes that the Crimean government is acting haphazardly, and by canceling the traditional mourning meeting, it has turned away from itself and the social activists who take a pro-Russian position and are opponents of the Mejlis. The expert explains the ban by the “uncertainty” of the Crimean authorities as to whether the people who are “appointed leaders” of the Crimean Tatar movement will be able to organize a rally and prevent it from becoming anti-government or anti-Russian.