is 53 years old. Lives in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. He runs a restaurant there. Irfan is a member of the Tatar Muslim minority in the Crimean peninsula in southern Ukraine. The Tatar Muslims of Turkish descent have long been exiled from Crimea because of the anger of the former Soviet government. At the age of 20, Irfan returned to Crimea from Central Asia like many other Tatars.
"It was a happy day," he said, recalling the day. When the elderly landed in Crimea from the plane, they kissed the ground. We were all crying for the joy of returning to our motherland. '
However, the situation changed in 2014, when Russia occupied the Crimean peninsula. About 10,000 Tatar Muslims, including Irfan, had to leave their homeland again. Irfan has been living in Kiev ever since. More than 100,000 Russian troops have now gathered on the Ukrainian border. Western nations, including the United States, have warned that Russia could launch a military strike on Russia at any time. If war breaks out, it will not be limited to Russia and Ukraine. The West will inevitably get involved. So the Tatar people are at new risk for their own safety, fearing Russian intervention in Ukraine.
The Tatars are a small ethnic group in the Crimean valley north of the Black Sea. In 1944, about 160,000 Tatars lived in Crimea. Their main occupation was animal husbandry. Crimea then belonged to the Soviet Union. Angered by Soviet ruler Joseph Stalin, the Tatars were forced to migrate to Central Asia, especially Uzbekistan. It is said that about half of the Tatars died of starvation, cold and disease during this arduous journey. Several countries, including Ukraine, have identified the incident as genocide.
At one time, thousands of Tatars were serving in the Soviet Red Army. Even then, Joseph Stalin believed that the Tatars were loyal to the Nazis. Such campaigns have been waged against the Tatars for years during the Soviet era. This is the reason for Stalin's anger against them. He banned the Tatars from practicing their own language in Crimea. For these reasons, the Tatars have had an anti-Soviet attitude from the past. That rash still remains. Russia has just replaced the Soviets.
The foreheads of the Tatars were opened after 1991. By then, the Soviet Union had collapsed. Ukraine has become independent. Crimea has become part of Ukraine, not Russia. The Ukrainian government allowed the Tatars to return to their homeland. However, when they returned, they could not get up to the abandoned house, they were occupied. "My grandmother went to the house she left behind," said Jakhida Kataki, who lives in Kiev. Its new owner treats her very badly. '
The next time is to gradually rise, to stay well. In the year of the fall of the Soviet Union, the Majlis, the body representing the Tatars in Crimea, was formed. Tatar schools were established in Crimea. The Tatars dream of settling down, turning around, and making a living. However, this dream was shattered when Crimea fell into the hands of Russia. Since then, Ukraine's military has been battling Russian-backed separatists. At least 14,000 people lost their lives in this battle
About 30,000 Tatars fled to Ukraine when Russian troops took control of Crimea in March 2014. Because, the Russian army carried out extreme repression on the Tatars. At that time Irfan left Crimea with his wife and four children and moved to Kiev. The Russian government later banned the Tatar 'Majlis', accusing it of separatism. The Tatars' TV channels were shut down.
It is estimated that at that time 10 percent of the Tatar population migrated to Ukraine. Most took refuge in Kiev or the southern city of Kherson. "I thought Crimea would soon be returned to Ukraine," Irfan said. We will be able to return to Crimea again. 'Irfan's hopes were not fulfilled.
Sorina Seitveliev's husband is a Tatar. The couple now run a restaurant in Kiev. "I believe that one day Crimea will regain control of Ukraine," Sorina said. Russia will have to pay the price for the forcible occupation. "
Although Russia has already invested billions of dollars in the development of Crimea's infrastructure. Hospitals, roads, power plants and connection lines are being constructed. A 19-kilometer bridge has been built to connect Crimea with mainland Russia. However, the Tatars did not have a place in these initiatives.
Life of the Tatars in Kiev
When you go out on the streets of Kiev, you will see many Tatar restaurants nearby. Leaving animal husbandry, the Tatars are now settled in the restaurant industry. The distinctive flags of the Tatars are seen flying here and there in Kiev. Sorina said unity among Tatars had grown since they were forced to leave Crimea anew. Tatars have become more aware of their profession and rich culture and traditions.
In recent years, the Ukrainian government and non-governmental organizations have taken up various projects to improve the living standards of Tatars. The Crimean House, a cultural center in Kiev, is hosting an exhibition on the history and art of the Tatars. Polina Nesterova, a 20-year-old student there, said: "Crimean Tatars have great respect for their culture. They never want to lose it. However, they have to be evicted from their land again and again. They will one day be able to return to Crimea and live in peace. "
About one million Muslims currently live in Kiev. In addition to the Tatars from Crimea, there are people from Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. At the city's Ar-Rahma Mosque, Muslim children can learn and study in their mother tongue.
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