Day of resistance: remembering the 2014 Crimean protests

Today, February 26, we remember the events of 2014, when a rally of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians took place in Simferopol in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and against Russian military aggression.

At 11 a.m., the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people called on the residents of the peninsula to gather for a protest against separatism outside the Crimean parliament. The demonstration was held under the slogan: “Preserving Ukraine’s territorial integrity and preventing the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea from adopting decisions aimed at destabilizing the situation in the autonomy.”

At that time, more than 10,000 Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians, and representatives of other nationalities gathered near the Crimean parliament to stand against separatism. An extraordinary session of the Crimean parliament was scheduled for 3 p.m. The agenda included two issues: “On the socio-political situation in Ukraine and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea” and “On the report of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.” The head of the Mejlis, Refat Chubarov, demanded that the speaker of the Crimean parliament, V. Konstantinov, cancel the extraordinary session to avoid confrontation and further escalation of the situation in Crimea.

By midday on February 26, between 10,000 and 20,000 pro-Ukrainian Crimean residents had gathered outside the parliament, along with 2,000 to 4,000 representatives of pro-Russian forces. The Crimean parliament session was supposed to begin at 3 p.m., but its opening was postponed due to the lack of a quorum. As clashes began, deputies started leaving the parliament building.

We remember how we gathered near the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea, holding Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar flags in our hands. We did not know what would happen next, but we felt that we had to act.

Unfortunately, our peaceful protests did not stop the occupation. Russian troops seized the parliament and government buildings. But we do not give up. We continue to fight for Crimea’s return to Ukraine. We remember those who remain under occupation and stand in solidarity with them.

Today, on the Day of Resistance to the Occupation of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, I want to say: we have not forgotten, we have not surrendered, and we will win!

Yusuf Kurkchi

Tags: crimea russia ukraine war