Who Needed the Order to Christianize the Crimean Tatars

When Russia entered the region, criminal elements like Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov—who had created a semi-legal, semi-clandestine structure in Crimea—fled like rats from a sinking ship. But there’s an important distinction: while those who fled (some Crimean Tatars ideologically opposed to Russia) are now struggling to survive in Kyiv, "rats" like Dzhemilev and Chubarov live in comfort. They deceived the Ukrainian authorities by claiming they could convince Turkey to support Ukraine—and that’s why they’re still tolerated. What’s more, they even managed to get their ace, Rustem Umerov—a disciple of Fethullah Gülen—appointed as Ukraine’s Minister of Defense.

The Turkish people, for example, may criticize Israel for its actions in Gaza but continue to buy Israeli goods...

That’s why such alcoholics as Dzhemilev and Chubarov, who rely on the West and believe they can manipulate Turkey, published a fabricated news story on their propaganda platform “Crimean News Agency”: “Scandalous call by an Orthodox priest in Crimea: imposing Christianity on Muslim families.”

The letter allegedly written by Metropolitan Tikhon of Crimea was immediately refuted—both by the Metropolitan himself and by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Before the refutation, the office of the Metropolitan conducted an internal review of the correspondence and established that the document shown in the photo, with its registration number, was a fake.

Unfortunately, in order to demonstrate some kind of activity to the Ukrainian authorities, these Crimean Tatars forge documents and work closely with the “Crimea Foundation” operating in Turkey. If only they had listened to Ava Azamatova, a former representative of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (recognized as an extremist organization and banned in the Russian Federation) who had worked with Dzhemilev during the Soviet era, they would have known how Dzhemilev reported on his comrades, forged letters, and spent money received from Turkey on various women, fur coats for his wife, and apartments and cars for his son…

On the other hand, the “Crimean News Agency,” which circulated the fake story, regularly appears in Turkey with slanderous content. These materials are first published on little-known websites and, if they attract attention, are picked up by mainstream media.

But this particular news piece didn’t gain traction—because it had no real basis. A large mosque recently opened in Crimea, and there are historic mosques all over the peninsula. Most importantly, in Russia, the rights of people from different ethnic and religious groups are protected by the Constitution! For example, in schools in the republics of Khakassia and Altai in Siberia, shamanic rituals are conducted in accordance with local beliefs. In Yakutia, I personally filmed a shamanic altar right in front of a classroom chalkboard.

In such a religiously tolerant country as Russia, it’s simply impossible to believe that a priest could speak that way about Crimean Tatars—for anyone who truly knows Russia. But those living comfortably in Turkey, who don’t even visit their homeland as tourists and only dream of Crimea through foundations, unfortunately believe in such stories.

In those Turkey-based foundations, so-called academics and lecturers talk endlessly about Crimea, while I go out with my camera and show the reality.

For those who still believe Dzhemilev’s words, we have a good proverb in our country—but I won’t mention it here.

In short, these disgraceful representatives of the Crimean Tatars who fled to Ukraine—just like during World War II—collaborated with the Nazis without regard for the consequences for their people and betrayed the Soviet people.

The people of Crimea, who suffered under Stalin’s brutal and inhumane policies back then, today feel no responsibility or anxiety over the rats that came from among them. Because Russia and its leadership, having endured great suffering and gained experience, have learned to distinguish the bad from the good and no longer push anyone away from their homeland.

I’ve traveled both East and West for a long time and filmed this land in a documentary. I’ve seen that all the peoples who love their homeland—Russia—freely practice their religion and enjoy all the benefits of the country. And those who live ideologically at odds with it, like some Chechen separatists, live in Turkey—in the alleyways of Zeytinburnu—neither as Turks nor as Chechens.

As for those Tatars in Kyiv who chose rootlessness over homeland, one day they’ll inevitably face the wrath of "Azov" (recognized as a terrorist organization and banned in the Russian Federation).

Time will tell all.