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Crimean Tatar Leader Says Kremlin Relying On 'Old Soviet Policy'


Dzhemilev Says Russia Uses Soviet Tactics To Divide Crimean Tatars
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WATCH: Veteran Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev, who has been barred from returning to his homeland after Russia's annexation of Crimea, says Moscow is relying "on the old Soviet policy of dividing the Crimean Tatars." In an interview with RFE/RL's Alsu Kurmasheva and Andrei Shary, Dzhemilev said that after attempts to co-opt the representative body of the Tatar community failed, the authorities may ban the Crimean Tatar Mejlis throughout the peninsula. He also said Moscow's annexation of Crimea is "damaging to the basic interests of Russia and the Russian people." (RFE/RL's Russian and Tatar-Bashkir Services)

Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev says that after Russia's annexation of Crimea, Moscow is relying "on the old Soviet policy of dividing the Crimean Tatars."

In an interview with RFE/RL's Russian and Tatar-Bashkir Services on June 11 in Prague, Dzhemilev said that after attempts to persuade the supreme representative body of the Crimean Tatars to cooperate failed, now "there is every sign that the Mejlis will be closed and banned" throughout Crimea.

He also said that Moscow's annexation of Crimea is "damaging to the basic interests of Russia and the Russian people," and "a path to catastrophe, isolation, and loss of respect" for the country.

Dzhemilev, a Soviet-era dissident, has strongly protested Russia's annexation of Crimea in March.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian and Tatar-Bashkir Services
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