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Prosecutors Warn Crimean Tatars Over 'Extremism' Amid Protests


Crimea's Chief Prosecutor Threatens To Ban Mejlis
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WATCH: Crimea's chief prosecutor threatens to ban the Mejlis

Prosecutors have warned Crimean Tatars that their main self-government body will be liquidated if it engages in "extremist" activities, a move that comes amid protests by local Tatars over the authorities' refusal to allow their leader, Mustafa Dzhemilev, into the region.

Natalya Poklonskaya, prosecutor general of the Ukrainian territory that was annexed by Russia last month, issued the warning on May 4 to Refat Chubarov, the leader of the organization, known as the Mejlis, according to a video of the meeting posted on YouTube.

Poklonskaya also accused Chubarov of organizing illegal demonstrations in support of Dzhemilev, who was denied entry into Crimea on May 3, a day after being turned back at a Moscow airport.

Thousands of Crimean Tatars broke through lines of Russian troops to meet Dzhemilev at a border-crossing point on May 3.
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