The authorities must respect the human dignity of Crimean

Recognition by the court of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars extremist organization, the criminal case against the deputy chairman of the national Crimean Tatar Parliament Ilmi Umerov, searches and detention of persons suspected of involvement in the prohibited on the territory of Russian organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir”, the pressure on independent journalists, permanent attempts block a site Crimean bureau “Radio Liberty” – this is an incomplete list of events that have occurred in the Crimea in the last month. Fight with the ubiquitous Russian statism and free-inako- recently significantly deteriorated. On this and many other “Krym.Realii” talked with the legendary Soviet dissident, human rights activist, head of the Moscow Helsinki Group Lyudmila Alekseeva.

– Hello, Ludmila. I, if I may, I would like to start with a more lyrical Q: You are known to krymchanka, originally from Yalta, in this regard, I want to ask if you are having some special experiences for the Crimea, for the fate of the peninsula, with the people who are here live as extremely turbulent situation there now?

– You know, of course, I feel the experience for all Crimean residents as they get used to life in the new state, because everything has its pluses and there are minuses, but most of all I worry about the Crimean Tatars. We, the Moscow human rights activists, helping them in the sixties and retained the friendship until now. I am very sorry for this people, and have great respect for him.

– You have repeatedly stated that monitoring the situation in the Crimea, and I would like to ask you, as a human rights defender with a huge experience in this field, in thesis to characterize the human rights situation on the peninsula.

– First of all, as I said, the situation is worthy of the Crimean Tatars. It is necessary to stop the persecution of the Crimean Tatar people. This indigenous population of Crimea, and they need to provide particularly favorable conditions for life in their historical homeland. As for the rest, I am sure that Russian human rights activists will help residents of the Crimea, regardless of their political beliefs, ethnicity and so on, because the Ukrainian human rights activists can no longer adequately support the inhabitants of the Crimea, even if they want to. All people whose rights have been violated, we are ready to help.

– There is an opinion that in the whole Russian people, including political and / or civic activists to breathe more freely. It is said that the Crimea – it’s not even the Russian hinterland, and here the situation of human rights looks much more dramatic, if not tragic. This view is justified?

– I think yes. Firstly, in the Crimea, to put it mildly, very strange power. As far as I know, they never enjoyed electoral support before their appointment “from above”. Of course, the ratio of such power to the people is appropriate. It is obvious that the Crimea – is not Moscow or St. Petersburg. This all – a special place. Just as we have a special place, for example, the North Caucasus or, perhaps, Bashkortostan. Even despite the fact that the majority of the population in the Crimea – a Russian, he is a special area that requires special attention from, including human rights defenders. There, on a regular basis working members of our human rights movement. This movement is, in fact, created the Moscow Helsinki Group, and we continue to work closely with them.

– What is the name of this movement?

Youth Human Rights Movement – “MPD” (apparently, we are talking about the international movement of Youth Human Rights Movement, in whose creation on the territory of Russia attended the Moscow Helsinki Group – KR ).

– I still would like to come back to the problems of the Crimean Tatars. Recently, as we all know, the Crimean Tatar Mejlis has been recognized by the Supreme Court of the Crimea extremist organization (this decision is being challenged – KR ). According to many experts, including human rights defenders, the injunction is still widely opens the doors to the authorities and law enforcement agencies to increase pressure on the members of the Crimean parliament and people to some extent involved in its activities. In your opinion, do the representatives of the Majlis in the current political environment means real protection? And as far as this protection can be effective?

– You see, we are engaged in the protection of human rights, not thinking about what will be able to protect us or not, or whether this protection to be effective because, if we are constantly thinking about it, then we would not have turned out to work. We do our job: to obtain protection – well, not work – will work as long until it starts to turn out. Something still does not work, well, what now … I have one thing I can say, and the prohibition of the Majlis, and permanent bans public gatherings of the Crimean Tatars, including in their mournful day – May 18, causing a disturbance, that no words. Then it must be said about the ban on entry to the Crimea Mustafa Dzhemilev and other activists, Refat Chubarov (head of the Majlis – KR), eg. Cemil life laid for ensuring that the Crimean Tatars were able to return to the Crimea. From a young age he was engaged in, and served for it, God knows how many years, endured several periods. And now, just go and ban him entry – it’s just as they say, in any gate not climbing. This is a huge, shameless violation of his rights and the rights of the entire Crimean Tatar people have recognized her for many years the leader.

– And after all that, in your opinion, is whether the possible dialogue between Crimean Tatars and the Kremlin?

– Crimean Tatars – extremely negotiability people. Only they do not need to push, intimidate or persecute. They should not be punished just for the fact that they – the Crimean Tatars. They need to adequately talk respectfully to treat them and then everything will be fine. On the Crimean Tatars is very easy to agree, believe me.

– you go to the Human Rights Council under the President of Russia. In Council formed and operates temporary working Group Rights in Crimean led known defenders. Members of the group trying to influence issues related to human rights violations in the Crimea. What do you think, can the human rights activists from the Human Rights Council in any way affect such a deplorable situation, related to the human rights situation in the Crimea? Or at least to change this trend in a positive way? whether members of the Board possess similar toolkits?

– You know, I actually went back to the Council (Alexeev belonged to the Council from 2002 to 2012, and then withdrew from it due to disagreement with the new principles for its formation, but in May 2015, again returned to the composition of this body – KR) Due to the fact that today the systematic human rights violations are taking place not only in Crimea, but also across the country, and we have very few sites where our voice can be heard. And the Human Rights Council under the President at present is perhaps the main one of these sites. Today it is impossible to ignore the opportunities offered us advice. They are not so much, but at present this is what we have. I’m not sure that the Council will be able to group Crimea anything dramatically changed, but, as I said, we will work as long as we achieve. We, at times, for many years engaged in the same problem, but sooner or later, some are seeking promotion.

– You know, when you read the numerous allegations of human rights activists in the Crimea, formed the impression that their activities are mainly declarative. That is, it is not converted from a conditional region in some pathetic practice. Can I change it? Is it possible to move the work of human rights defenders closer “to the ground”?

– I agree with the first part of your remarks. You see, human rights defenders, as, indeed, all those 14 percent of the population, do not shout “krymnash” and human rights activists, of course, were among them, there is skepticism about the people who were torn from a free country – Ukraine’s less free country – Russia. Whether on a national basis, due to the belief that the Russian pension is greater than or at some third reason, I do not know. And thank you very much to our Youth Human Rights Movement, which does not share this skepticism. They believe, and absolutely correctly, in my view believe that in those regions where the worst human rights, there should be especially hard work. But Crimea is just such a place. The peninsula is the human rights situation is far worse than in Ukraine and, and than the average in Russia, so I very much support those human rights defenders who work in the Crimea. In general, I want to tell you that the work of human rights defenders had not immediately noticeable. It is necessary a lot of time an effort to achieve something. Human rights defenders working in the Crimea, will necessarily achieve it, and we will support them.

– And the last is perhaps the question. I would like you as a person engaged in human rights activities in the Soviet times, when the notorious nuts have been tightened much tighter, ask for advice: how to live residents of the Crimea in the current environment and what must first seek from the current political regime?

– You know, I do not give advice. I believe that every person is free to choose the best option for him in accordance with their preferences. For example, many of my fellow citizens, burdened the ratio of the power that we have established, to people just prefer to leave. I do not think this is correct, but I have never, not one person did not speak, they say, do not, stay … In man, always fighting two aspirations: to be better, and live better. One chooses one, the other chooses another: everyone chooses that to his heart. But, at the same time, I wish to Crimeans made by the authorities to respect their human dignity. From this, believe me, everybody wins, including how it would sound strange, and government officials. It only seems that it is easier to run the country, intimidating, forcing and punishing people. Actually, it is easier to run the country, respecting, trusting and helping people. May God grant to all residents of the Crimea, that somehow everything was settled.

Interviewed by David Axelrod

Sourse, 16/05/2016