Newsline - Crimea: Issue 3
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
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Date: Fri, 3 Apr 1998 15:19:41 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: Newsline - Crimea: Issue 3
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Kurtmolla Abdulganijew
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Newsline - Crimea: Issue 3
From: "Alim Memetov" <[email protected]>
Date sent: Tue, 31 Mar 98 19:14:29 +0200
Newsline. Crimea. Issue 3
Crimea: Political Situation
Information Bulletin
The Center of Public Initiatives "Aydin"
Issue 3
23-30 March, 1998
Crimea: Before, During and After Elections
The Analytical Report on Political Events
Materials published in this rubric, are reflecting point of view of
authors and of the Center of Public Initiatives "Aydin".
Back to "Bright Future"
The supporters of "Bright future" idea, or the Communism, have gained
a convincing victory at Ukrainian elections. The Crimean peninsula
was not exclusion.
Disproving the predicted passiveness of electorate, 63.6% of Crimean
population took part in elections. Crimea, having the reputation of
"red belt" center of Ukraine, proved this confidence. According
preliminary data 67% of those people who took part in elections, voted
for No 11 - the Ukrainian Communist Party.
Even those who are supporters of Russia oriented separatists and
thanking whom "Russia" political block won the elections of 1991 in
Crimea, during these elections did not support its successor, "Soyuz"
party. In my opinion this verifies the fact of transition from extreme
ideas of separatism to communist ideas.
The results of elections to Crimean Parliament not differ so much from
Ukrainian Parliament.
The leader of Crimean communists, Mr.Leonid Grach held a
press-conference just after the elections, at 30th March, pointing
out, that by preliminary data, Crimean communists have won 40 mandates
(total amount is 100 mandates). Mr.Grach did not keep in secret his
intention to be a Parliament speaker and to think about changing of
Crimean government.
Crimean Tatars who took an active part in elections by nominating
their candidates and voting, were able to win just two mandates to
Ukrainian Parliament. Crimean Tatar deputies are: Chairman of the
Mejlis of Crimean Tatar People, Mr.Mustafa Jemilev, and Deputy
Chairman of Mejlis, Mr.Refat Chubarov, who won by single-mandate
district.
Kara Haydar
* * *
Mustafa Jemilev: "We return to our homeland and we began to show who
is the owner of this land, and we will show it in the future".
Still Peacefully.
There was the information that at March, 24th during the last meeting
of Ukrainian Verhovna Rada (Parliament) the issue of citizenship of
Crimean Tatars was not examined. Thus at 28th March about 10 thousands
Crimean Tatars were demonstrating at Simferopol's central square.At
the same time about 18 thousands policeman and special forces from
different regions of Ukraine were gathered to "provide the safety of
demonstrators". Before the meeting some politics were talking about
"bad manners" of Crimean Tatar people, ignoring how the government
acts to Tatars' demands.For example, the head of President
Administration, Mr. Evgeny Kushnaryov said, "There is enough power of
State to stop Crimean Tatar extremists."
About 50 of armored troop carriers were gathered to Simferopol also.
The soldiers were "ready to clashes" at train station of Simferopol.
But meeting participants resisted the provocations.
The leader of Crimean Branch of Narodny Ruh, Mr.Leonid Pilunsky said,
"Government decided that the prisoners will take part in elections".
The Head of Political-Legislative department of the Mejlis of the
Crimean Tatar People, Mr. Nadir Bekirov said, "We see the attitude
of Ukrainian Government to us". After this he read the letters of
support of Crimean Tatar people, received by the Mejlis. There were
not only letters from Muslims (Tatarstan, Caucasus) but also from
Slavic representatives (Donetsk, Harkiv, Saransk).
The veterans of National movement of Crimean Tatars spoke at the
meeting. Chairman of Mejlis of Crimean Tatar People, Mr.Mustafa
Jemilev said, "...they did not want to understand us. At 10th March
when our people were demonstrating they show us their strength. As if
Milli (National) Mejlis has airplanes, they prepared antiaircraft
guns. So, their intellect is like this. But nobody is able to scare
our people. We return to our homeland and we began to show who is the
owner of this land, and we will show it in the future." In conclusion
Mr.Jemilev called those Crimean Tatars who are citizens of Ukraine to
take an active part in elections, and those, who are not Ukrainian
citizens, would organize pickets near elections centers, but never
disturbing other people. After at 14.30 Crimean Muslims Mufti Haji
Nuri Efendi prayed for peace in Crimea and for Crimean Tatars and
meeting was closed.
Jemile Lyumanova
* * *
The Political Chronicle
Will be the Militia State built in Crimea?
By Head of Main Administration of Ministry of Internal Affairs of
Ukraine in Crimea Mr.Moskal, more than 50 "important officers" were
proposed as candidates of all level. Mass-media representatives
informed that there were infringements by these structures during the
elections campaign. Policemen are blamed for interfering to work of
electoral commissions, tests of subscription lists.
Mr. Lev Mirimsky, one of the leaders of "Soyuz" Party marked these
acts like: "Everything is all right. We are creating the Militia
State".
* * *
Breaking the Law, the Leader of Russian Communists Took Part at
Election Campaign
A few days before the elections leader of Russian communists,
Mr.Gennady Zyuganov visited Crimea. Mr.Zyuganov made no secret that
his another coming to peninsula is connected with current election
campaign and will demonstrate the solidarity with Crimean communists.
Together with the leader of Crimean communist party Mr.Zyuganov
conducted agitation meetings at Simferopol and Simferopol.
* * *
The Leader of Mejlis Still Hopes
A few days before the elections, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean
Tatar People, Mr.Mustafa Jemilev expressed his point of view
concerning activities of newly elected Ukrainian Parliament. Asking
the question on perspectives of solving Crimean Tatars' problems at
Verhovna Rada, Mr. Jemilev said, "Much will depend on structure of
new Parliament after 29th of March. If it will be "reddish" again,
then we cannot wait for the better and two or three Crimean Tatar
deputies cannot change the weather. But they, at least, would be able
to continuously remind about problems of our people, to provide all
the necessary information for the deputies, to take part in
development of necessary legislation documents, to meet more often
with government officials, etc. In short, as far as possible to assist
in solving the problems with help of democratic part of Parliament.
There is a hope, that new proportional-majority system of elections
will slightly improve the structure of Parliament, and thus the
perspective of solving country's problems, including Crimean Tatar
problem."
* * *
Stalin's picture as a Factor of Revenge
The Crimean Communists' leader, Mr.Leonid Grach pointed out during a
press-conference, that as an answer to attempt to pogrom the Party's
office at 24th of March by Crimean Tatars, communists hung out
Stalin's picture on their building.
* * *
"I was always opposite to providing a quota for deported peoples at
Parliament"
"I was always opposite to providing a quota for deported peoples at
Parliament", said the first secretary of Ukrainian Communist Party,
Mr. Petr Simonenko during a press-conference at Crimean Information
Press Center of IREX ProMedia. After this Mr.Simonenko added, "...
Crimean Tatars do not need the citizenship, because of they are just
"shuttles" who are moving there and back."
* * *
Vyacheslav Chornovil Thinks That Ukrainian President Gave to
Communists 80 Thousands Votes
The leader of Narodny Ruh, which won a second place in Ukrainian
elections, Mr.Vyacheslav Chornovil thinks, that the President of
Ukraine, Mr.Leonid Kuchma gave 80 thousands of votes to communists
refusing to allow Crimean Tatars who have no Ukrainian citizenship to
vote.
* * *
Narodny Ruh of Ukraine Went Through a 4% Barrier in Russian-Speaking
Crimea
According preliminary data of Crimean regional branch of Narodny Ruh,
about 6% of votes in Crimea were collected by this most influential
Ukrainian democratic organization. Undoubtedly this is a great success
in Crimea. Such a rating of Ukrainian pro-State party within the
peninsula with the most procommunist and pro-Russia population seemed
to be impossible. Mainly Crimean Tatars voted on support of Narodny
Ruh because of their leader, Mr.Mustafa Jemilev was in top ten of
Party list. The Communist Party has a leadership in Crimea by voting
Party lists.
* * *
Crimean Communists Offer the Ukrainian President to Go to Resignation
Crimean Communists' leader, Mr.Leonid Grach said that Ukrainian
president, Mr.Leonid Kuchma should declare early presidential
elections at Fall of 1998. According prior information, about a half
of Crimean Parliament members will be representatives of Crimean
Communists.
This issue was prepared by Kara Haydar.
Translated into English by Alim Memetov.
This bulletin reflects the opinion of Center of Public Initiatives
"Aydin".
The editorial is ready to discuss with readers.
When preparing this issue the materials of Crimean mass-media were
used.
Our address:
Pushkin Street, 1
Bakhchisaray, Crimea
Ukraine, 334410
Tel/fax: (+38 06554) 47491
e-mail: [email protected]
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