INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
CASE CONCERNING
APPLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SUPPRESSION
OF THE FINANCING OF TERRORISM AND OF THE INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF RACIAL
DISCRIMINATION
(Ukraine v. Russian Federation)
COUNTER-MEMORIAL ON THE CASE CONCERNING APPLICATION OF
THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Submitted by the Russian Federation
Volume I
(Annexes 1 - 21)
9 August 2021
The Annexes contained in this Volume are true copies of the original documents referred to in the
Counter-Memorial, together with translations (marked accordingly) from their original language into
English, an official language of the Court, pursuant to Article 51 of the Rules of Court.
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
VOLUME I
Annex 1 Witness Statement of
, 28 January 2021
Annex 2 Witness Statement of
, 29 March 2021
Annex 3 Witness Statement of
, 30 March 2021
Annex 4 Witness Statement of
, 1 April 2021
Annex 5 Witness Statement of ,
21 April 2021
Annex 6 Witness Statement of ,
21 April 2021
Annex 7 Witness Statement of
, 22 April 2021
Annex 8 Witness Statement of
22 April 2021
Annex 9 Witness Statement of
, 22 April 2021
Annex 10 Witness Statement of
29 April 2021
Annex 11 Witness Statement of
,
13 May 2021
Annex 12 Witness Statement of
, 13 May 2021
Annex 13 Witness Statement of Ayder Serverovich Ablyatipov, 17 May 2021
Annex 14 Witness statement of
, 19 May 2021
Annex 15 Witness Statement of
, 19 May 2021
Annex 16 Witness Statement of , 31 May 2021
2
Annex 17 Witness Statement of O
31 May 2021
Annex 18 Witness Statement of , 31 May 2021
Annex 19 Witness Statement of , 9 June 2021
Annex 20 Witness statement of
”, 9 June 2021
Annex 21 Expert Report of Dmitry Anatolievich Funk, Roman Alexandrovich Starchenko,
Valery Vladimirovich Stepanov and Sergey Valeryevich Sokolovsky, 17 June 2021
Annex 1
Witness Statement of
28 January 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, , of the municipal
budgetary general educational institution “Yalta Secondary School No. 15” of the municipality of the
urban district Yalta (the Republic of Crimea, Russia; hereinafter – the “School”).
2. In this witness statement, I have been asked to address various issues related to the
opportunities to study in Ukrainian and to learn Ukrainian at our School. Besides, I was also invited
to comment on whether students of our School have an opportunity to study and practice culture and
art of the Ukrainian people.
3. Our School was established in 1998 in the building of a former kindergarten as a school
with instruction in Ukrainian. In the Ukrainian period, our School was the only school out of 28
educational institutions in Yalta with Ukrainian as the language of education. The work of newly
established School was strongly supported by one of the organisations of the Ukrainian diaspora in
Canada. Due to the assistance of that organisation, the School received textbooks in Ukrainian
prepared and published in Canada. Given that Ukrainians in Canada are isolated from the main
Ukrainian language area, the Canadian Ukrainian dialect was developing differently from kindred
western Ukrainian ones for objective reasons. In light of this, textbooks published in Canada had
numerous grammatical and lexicological discrepancies. Besides, textbooks on “Ukrainian Studies”
followed a clearly anti-Russian narrative. Afterwards the School decided not to use these textbooks
for they were of improper quality and inconsistent with the curriculum. Several years after the School
was established, contact with that organisation was discontinued over time, and no sponsor support
came from them after that.
4. Up to 2004, the School experienced a shortage of teachers who could teach certain subjects
in Ukrainian. However, this problem was eventually solved through an influx of Ukrainians from
mainland Ukraine. Most locals in modern Crimea speak Russian as their native language, and that
was also the case back in 2001 when I just moved to Yalta. In my view, the then interest in obtaining
education in Ukrainian in Crimea in the Ukrainian period was mostly due to future education and
career opportunities in Ukraine for those who had a good command of Ukrainian.
Translation
Annex 1
1
2
5. Since the establishment of our School, the contingent of students consisted of children of
families that had moved in from Ukraine1 and children of local Russian-speaking families whose
parents wanted their children to be educated in Ukrainian so the latter could have better opportunities
after graduation. In the Ukrainian period, when Ukrainian was the only official language in Crimea,
the locals with a good command of Ukrainian could have certain advantages, for instance, when
seeking employment in the public sector both in Crimea and mainland Ukraine.
6. Once Crimea reunited with Russia, we offered the parents of our students (including
prospective students) a choice. They could either opt for instruction in Ukrainian or Russian.
Irrespective of what language of instruction they chose, they could apply for their children to study
the Ukrainian language as a separate subject. In the 10th and 11th grades, Ukrainian can only be
studied as a subject since in the Russian Federation the teaching at schools beyond the 9th grade
cannot be conducted in languages other than Russian.
7. I have lived in Yalta for about twenty years and personally know many families of my
students, and I can say that the choice of the language of instruction as between Russian and Ukrainian
is a matter of practicality for most families. As I have already noted, almost all Yalta residents use
Russian in everyday life, and shifting to Russian in class was not a challenge even for students who
had been previously educated in Ukrainian. All the more so as even in the Ukrainian period one could
hear Ukrainian only in class, whereas out of class each and every child used Russian, with this
happening at our School, a school with Ukrainian as the language of instruction. I believe that the
choice of the language of education mostly depends on whether the parents want their children to
continue their education and career in Russia or in Ukraine.
8. During the summer of 2014, we collected applications from the parents of our students in
order to choose the preferred language of education in each class. Based on these applications we
created 16 classes with instruction in Russian and 8 classes with instruction in Ukrainian. Obviously,
we tried to meet all wishes and re-shaped the classes to have at least one Ukrainian class per grade
level2, if possible. As far as I remember, we did not have a Ukrainian class only in the 1st grade,
because all students of that year applied for instruction in Russian.
9. Many students who were generally interested in the language decided to study Ukrainian.
In 2014/2015 academic year, 163 out of 342 students of our School studied Ukrainian. Ukrainian was
a subject included in the main curriculum at that time. Further, we organised an extra-curricular
1 Many students who left for Ukraine with their families after Crimea joined Russia were not locals. As I have already
explained, our students are mostly locals, and that is why there were not that many students who left. As far as I recollect,
some 30 students moved to Ukraine in 2014 and 2015, which did not affect the number of Ukrainian classes at our School
since a great many families moved in from Donbass during that period.
2 The number of class groups of the same age.
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course of Ukrainian. Every student whose parents expressed a desire for him or her to study Ukrainian
had an opportunity to do that.
10. The number of families opting for Ukrainian as the language of instruction decreased year
by year. I attach to this witness statement a table showing year by year (1) the number of classes
instructed in Ukrainian and the number of students in these classes, (2) the number of classes
instructed in Russian and the number of students in these classes, (3) the number of students studying
Ukrainian as a subject of the main curriculum and (4) the number of students studying Ukrainian as
an extra-curricular course3. In the 2018/2029 academic year, there was not a single application for
instruction in Ukrainian. In the 2019/2020 academic year, there was not even a single application for
studying Ukrainian as a subject.
11. Our School can certainly resume instruction in Ukrainian or teaching of Ukrainian should
the parents of our students express their wish to have it. Now our School has two teachers (including
myself) specialised in “Ukrainian Language and Literature”.
12. As I said, I believe that in most cases, the matter of whether to have one’s children
educated in Ukrainian or to have them study Ukrainian in Crimea rests on practical considerations. I
believe that it is for this very reason that the interest in the Ukrainian language is gradually decreasing.
While Russian and Ukrainian are very closely related, learning the latter in depth still requires
considerable effort and concentration. Since graduates of our School have mostly entered Russian
higher educational institutions over the past years, parents and students may choose themselves
whether there is any use dedicating their time to studying subjects they do not need for their exams.
13. Considering that we are a small establishment, I am mostly aware of what institutions our
students enter after graduation. In particular, I know that in the 2019/2020 academic year only one
female student out of 24 students of the 9th grade4 decided to move to Kiev for family reasons that,
to my knowledge, are not related to her intention to obtain education in Ukrainian. Many graduates
of the 9th grade continue their education at our School. Insofar as the 11th grade is concerned5, only
one graduate out of 16 students planned to move to Ukraine. As the student’s parents told me, the
student decided to move and continue his studies in Odessa because his family comes from there, and
they had close relatives in the city.
14. Between 2014 and 2020, the School’s teaching personnel for the most part remained
unchanged. Four teachers resigned: to the best of my recollection, one of them retired, another left
for Krasnodar (Russia), another got married and went to Saint Petersburg. The School’s former
3 Yalta Secondary School No. 15, Information on students studying at the School between 2013/2014 academic year and
2020/2021 academic year (Annex 732).
4 The end of the basic general education programme.
5 The final year at secondary school.
Annex 1
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headmaster was employed by
when she moved to another city in Crimea. Our teachers
did not retrain to other specialities since most of them had already two specialities by that time. For
instance, one of my colleagues is an elementary school teacher and a teacher of “Ukrainian Language
and Literature”, and I myself am a teacher of “Russian Language and Literature” and “Ukrainian
Language and Literature”. Most teachers are equally qualified to teach in Russian and in Ukrainian.
15. Even though most of our students do not engage in an in-depth study of Ukrainian, we
nevertheless come across Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian folk art (folklore, songs, dances, literature,
celebration of memorable dates) from time to time. For instance, we celebrate the birthday of Taras
Shevchenko every year, and our students recite poems in Ukrainian on festive occasions. Moreover,
as our School is situated on a street named after Stepan Rudansky, a Ukrainian poet and physician,
we honour his memory and lay flowers at his grave. Our School annually celebrates the Day of
Tolerance, which is very popular in Crimea as the population here is quite mixed. Each class chooses
any ethnicity and stages a performance (a short theatrical performance, national song or dance). One
of the classes represents Ukrainian culture every year. To promote respect for the ethnic diversity of
the Crimean population, our School also holds a school-wide event called “Legends of Crimea”
during which students choose one of the ethnicities of the Crimean Peninsula and stage musical,
dancing or singing performances that reflect the charm and uniqueness of the ethnicity they represent.
I attach to this witness statement photographs of events held at our School over the past years6.
16. I am aware that concerns have been raised over political neutrality of school education in
Crimea. In particular, as I understand, it is alleged that our students are required to submit papers on
political matters, such as the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation. That is not the case.
Indeed, the date of accession to the Russian Federation is widely celebrated in Crimea as an important
landmark in the contemporary political history of the peninsula, but this is a civic event unrelated to
the work of our School. It is important to stress that we invite our students to express their views
should they wish to do so. However, no student is obliged either to participate in extracurricular
activities or, needless to say, to express his or her views.
17. On a separate note, I would like to emphasise that the School received no government
support in the Ukrainian period. Basically schools in Ukraine rely on funding from sponsors and
charitable foundations. After termination of contacts with the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada in 2004–
2005, our School no longer received any funding from charitable foundations, and we did repairs and
purchased furniture and textbooks at the expense of our students’ parents. But the situation drastically
changed after the accession of Crimea to the Russian Federation. We received budget funds from the
Republic of Crimea for capital repairs. During the repairs, we replaced certain elements of load-
6 Yalta Secondary School No. 15, Photographs from cultural events held at school between 2014 and 2021 (Annex 1233).
Annex 1
5
bearing structures, laid new utility lines, repaired premises and classrooms. Particularly, we furnished
modern classrooms of computer science, physics and chemistry, and a library with a reading room.
Further, we built a sports hall and a catering facility that we had not had in the building before. On
the back of government support, we entirely changed furniture and equipment in classrooms,
purchased new computers, and interactive panels and touch-screen blackboards are now in every
classroom. As a result of these changes, our School’s students now have modern and comfortable
conditions for education, which undoubtedly has an impact upon the quality of education in general.
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information set forth in this witness
statement is accurate.
Signature: /Signed/
Full name:
Date: 28 January 2021
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Annex 2
Witness Statement
, 29 March 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, ,
(full name – the Municipal Budgetary General Educational
Institution “Simferopol Academic Gymnasium” of the municipality – the urban district of Simferopol
of the Republic of Crimea; hereinafter – the “Gymnasium”) since 2000. I have acted
2. As I have worked at the Gymnasium for many years and witnessed events surrounding
the institution’s shift to Russian educational standards, I will explain in this witness statement how
the Simferopol Academic Gymnasium has provided education in the Russian and Ukrainian
languages and what opportunities our gymnasium students have had to study the state languages of
the Republic of Crimea over the last years.
3. The Gymnasium (formerly – the Training and Educational Institution “Ukrainian
Gymnasium School” of Simferopol) was opened in 1998. During the period when Crimea was part
of Ukraine, our Gymnasium was the only educational institution in Simferopol with Ukrainian as the
language of instruction in all subjects, and – considering that the Gymnasium was not territorially
attached to any district – we admitted children wishing to be educated in Ukrainian from across
Simferopol and the Simferopol District. Since opening of the Gymnasium, the Russian language,
which was a native language for the vast majority of students, was studied as a subject, and Russian
literature was studied as part of foreign literature. Since 2005, as per the curriculum, the Russian
language has been excluded from the mandatory educational programme, and became an optional
subject studied by students if they wished so.
4. As concerns the process of transition to Russian as the language of instruction at our
Gymnasium, I can say the following. After the 2014 referendum, the language of instruction was not
changed in a single class, and all students continued to study in Ukrainian. And in summer of 2014,
we held parent-teacher meetings at which the parents were offered to choose the language of
instruction for the next academic year. They could opt for any of the state languages of the Republic
of Crimea (Crimean Tatar, Russian, Ukrainian), the choice was mainly between Russian and
Ukrainian. Following an opinion poll taken among students’ legal representatives and based on their
written applications, 85% of students shifted to Russian as the language of instruction in the
2014/2015 academic year. 147 children, who constituted the remaining 15% of the total number of
students, wished to be taught in Ukrainian.
Translation
Annex 2
1
2
5. Of course, in forming classes, we did try to take into account the opinions of all
students and their parents. As a result, in the 2014/2015 academic year we formed nine classes with
Ukrainian as the language of instruction, with one class in each grade level1. Our Gymnasium had no
rigid restrictions as to the number of students required for opening a class, and we provided everyone
with an opportunity to be instructed in Ukrainian, even though the classed proved to be rather small
in numbers in the end. For instance, in the 2014/2015 academic year, the 4th Ukrainian grade had
only seven students, six of whom moved to Ukraine at the end of the year, whereas the seventh
student’s parents wrote an application to have their child transferred to a class with Russian as the
language of instruction. In light of this, we were not able to form the 5th grade with Ukrainian as the
language of instruction in the next academic year due to lack of applicants. Meanwhile the rest of the
Ukrainian classes continued to be instructed in Ukrainian.
6. In the 2015/2016 academic year, when admitting children to the 1st grade, we received
only one application for instruction in Ukrainian, and as it was not reasonably possible to form a class
for one individual, we could not form a class with Ukrainian as the language of instruction. In the
years since, we have not received any applications for admitting children to the 1st grade with
Ukrainian as the language of instruction; therefore, since the 2015/2016 academic year education in
the 1st grades has been provided exclusively in Russian.
7. Today we still have classes with Ukrainian as the language of instruction: these are the
7th, 8th and 9th grades. But their number is decreasing year by year since, as I have explained above,
no 1st grades with Ukrainian as the language of instruction have been formed since 2015. Thus, as at
October of the 2020/2021 academic year, the number of students in Ukrainian classes was as follows:
15 people are in the 7-U class, 17 people are in the 8-U class, and 19 people are in the 9-U class2.
8. Aside from education in the Ukrainian language, the Gymnasium gives a free choice
of native language study, including Ukrainian, as a mother tongue irrespective of the language of
instruction. Besides, our Gymnasium affords everyone an opportunity to study Ukrainian regardless
of the minimum number of students in a group. According to the Federal State Educational Standards,
such subjects areas as “Native Language and Literature Reading in One’s Native Language” (primary
general education level) and “Native Language and Literature” (basis general education level) are
mandatory. As a rule, when children are admitted to the 1st grade or when students are transferred
from primary school to secondary school, students’ parents generally file an application wherein they
specify the preferred language of instruction and the language of study as a native one: it could be
Ukrainian, Russian, or Crimean Tatar. In our Gymnasium, as of now we have not received any
applications for studying a native language other than Russian when admitting children to the 1st
1 “Grade level” means the number of classes with students of the same age.
2 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium, Information on number of students studying at Simferopol Academic Gymnasium
between 2012/2013 academic year and 2020/2021 academic year (Annex 739).
Annex 2
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grade. Nevertheless, in more senior classes we do have certain groups studying one’s native
languages: Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, and Russian.
9. During the period before 2014, number of students of our Gymnasium was composed
of children from families coming from mainland Ukraine. For example, there was a fair amount of
children from military families. Regarding changes in the contingent of students after Crimea’s
admission to Russia, it is difficult for me to provide data across the Gymnasium since no such
statistics was gathered at that time, but, insofar as the class I was the head teacher of is concerned, I
can say that 10 of 34 students moved to Ukraine – these were mostly children of servicemen and
public officials. In my understanding, these students had to leave the Gymnasium because their
parents changed their place of work and then moved to Ukraine. However, new nine students came
next year, and there was therefore no evident decrease in the contingent of students, at least in my
class. Furthermore, more and more new students came to us every year, new classes were formed,
and the number of gymnasium students has eventually increased by more than 200 people over the
last six years.
10. Regarding changes in the contingent of teaching staff, I can only say that about six or
seven teachers left the Gymnasium between 2014 and 2016 for they moved to Ukraine. I am not
personally aware of any other reasons. Those teachers who moved to Ukraine were mostly newcomers
rather than locals, so they simply returned home to their relatives and closed ones. In addition, most
teachers who worked at the Gymnasium before March 2014, have still been working here to this day.
Moreover, as the contingent of students has increased, many new teachers, including young
specialists, have come to the Gymnasium in recent years.
11. To my knowledge, no teacher of the Gymnasium has experienced any difficulty
shifting to Russian educational standards, including to Russian language of instruction. It is only
teacher philologists – who were going to teach the subject area “The Russian Language and
Literature” but had only one specialty “Teacher of the Ukrainian Language and Literature” in their
diplomas – that required retraining. Nevertheless, many teachers had double specialties, which
allowed them to teach both in Ukrainian and Russian without undergoing any retraining. Teachers of
history, mathematics, physics, and other subjects, including primary teachers, did not undergo any
retraining relating to training programmes in Russian. Further, all teachers of the Gymnasium, as well
as students, were Russian-speaking, and Russian was a native language for most of them. For
instance, my own children graduated from this Gymnasium, and we are a Russian-speaking family
and mostly use Russian in everyday life and at home. Therefore, for me personally, it was easy enough
to switch from teaching in Ukrainian to teaching in Russian.
12. As concerns teaching and learning materials, I can say that we are fully provided with
textbooks in Russian and textbooks on the Ukrainian language and literature reading prepared by
local Crimean authors in Ukrainian for primary school students. According to a letter of the Ministry
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of Education, Science, and Youth of the Republic of Crimea, we can also use textbooks on the
Ukrainian language and Ukrainian literature published by Ukrainian printing houses as teaching and
learning materials. In 2016, my colleagues and I were involved in the development of exemplary
basic general educational programmes on “Ukrainian Language” and “Ukrainian Literature”.
13. The Gymnasium also gives students an opportunity to study the Ukrainian and
Crimean Tatar languages as part of extracurricular activities. In primary school, each grade level has
a group (some eight to nine students) that studies Ukrainian or Crimean Tatar. Our gymnasium
students are always actively involved in academic competitions on the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar
languages, take top places, and win the city and republican competitions. Besides, competitions on
the knowledge of one’s native language, where children display their ability to recite beautifully
pieces of works in their mother tongue, are popular among students. The Gymnasium annually holds
events dedicated to the International Mother Language Day that feature various quizzes, discussions,
interesting classes, thematic exhibitions of books in languages of different peoples3. Besides, students
of various grades periodically take part in open classes of the Ukrainian language and literature4
organised, including with the participation of students of higher educational institutions of
Simferopol. Such events are held not only for the purposes of satisfying educational needs, but also
in order to cultivate children’s interest in studying native languages and to improve the quality of
students’ knowledge.
14. Our Gymnasium pays increased attention to the history and culture of one’s native
land. Primary school has extracurricular classes in “The Land I Live in” where primary school
students study the history and geography of the Crimean Peninsula and specific features of various
peoples living in Crimea. Students obtaining basic general education have an opportunity to take such
extracurricular courses as “Cultural Heritage of the Ukrainian People” and “Cultural Heritage of the
Crimean Tatar People”. The Gymnasium also organises other courses with regional elements, for
instance, the courses “Crimean Studies”, “Fundamentals of World Religious Cultures”. The subject
“Fundamentals of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics” is part of the compulsory educational
programme of the 4th grade, whereas the subject “Fundamentals of Spiritual and Moral Culture of
Peoples of Russia” is taught in the 5th grade.
15. Additionally, the Gymnasium constantly organises out-of-school events where
students have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with different ethnicities, traditions, customs,
3 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “The gymnasium hosted events dedicated to the International
Mother Language Day (PHOTO)”, 4 March 2018 (Annex 1084); Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website,
“About the meeting of the Museum Council dedicated to the Mother Language Day”, 1 March 2019 (Annex 1103); see
also video “Mother Language Day, 21 February 2019”, available in Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar at the
Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website: http://sagimnazy.ru/ru/2015-11-04-17-20-21/1501-01-03-19-ozasedanii-
soveta-muzeya-posvyashchjonnogo-dnyu-rodnogo-yazyka-foto.
4 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Open lesson of Ukrainian literature in the 6-U class during the
week of the Russian language and literature (PHOTO)”, 17 November 2017 (Annex 1076).
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art, way of life, folk costumes, cuisine, and other specific features of various peoples living in Crimea.
In particular, primary school students occasionally have homeroom lessons themed on “Traditions
and Customs of Various Peoples”5. Moreover, the Gymnasium annually hosts the municipal research
and practical conference “Regional Specific Features of Crimea: Problems and Prospects of
Development” and held in celebration of the Day of the Republic of Crimea6. Students of various
schools of Simferopol take part in the conference and present their research papers on Crimean studies
and the cultural heritage of Crimean ethnic groups. To illustrate the range of interests of our students,
I enclose the results of one of such conferences held in the 2019/2020 academic year, including a list
of papers divided on thematic categories7.
16. As part of educative process, our Gymnasium pays special attention to ethnic and
cultural upbringing focused on fostering the culture of interethnic communication among children.
We have preserved all events traditionally held before 2014 and continue to hold them today. The
Gymnasium has a drama studio headed by Nelia Nikolaevna Zhuk, and the school’s repertoire
periodically includes performances reflecting the national identity of peoples of Crimea, of course,
there are performances staged in Ukrainian as well. The school choir’s repertoire also includes songs
in Ukrainian.
17. Of all events dedicated to the Ukrainian language and culture, our students especially
favour St. Andrew’s Eve, January Carols, and Saint Nicolas Day. St. Andrew’s Eve are fittingly held
in keeping with the best folk traditions: all attendees have an opportunity to appraise the beauty of
Ukrainian folk costumes and rituals, while students show various stage performances featuring
dialogues, chastushki and jokes, songs, and Ukrainian folk dances8.
18. In addition to Ukrainian festivities, the Gymnasium also hosts events associated with
the culture and history of the Crimean Tatar people and celebrates national holidays and
commemorative dates9. For example, on 25 October 2020, the Gymnasium held a number of events
in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Amet-Khan Sultan, twice the Hero of the Soviet Union.
The Gymnasium’s primary grades held homeroom lessons and thematic exhibitions dedicated to the
life and heroics of the Hero. Students of the 2nd to 7th grades staged a musical and literary
5 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Homeroom lesson ‘Traditions and customs of various peoples’
(photo)”, 16 January 2020 (Annex 1127).
6 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “A scientific practical conference ‘Mosaic of the peoples of Crimea’
was held in the Simferopol Academic Gymnasium”, 26 January 2016 (Annex 1057).
7 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, Results of the municipal research and practical conference
“Regional specific features of Crimea: Problems and prospects of development” dedicated to the Day of the Republic of
Crimea, 2019-2020 (Annex 708).
8 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “St. Andrew’s Eve”, 27 December 2019 (Annex 1110).
9 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Congratulations to all Muslims on Eid al-Adha!”, 1 September
2017 (Annex 1071).
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performance about the life and deeds of the pilot, a Crimean Tatar born in Crimea, and students of
primary and secondary school took part in a recitation contest10.
19. Every year, on 18 May, the Gymnasium observes the Memorial Day for the Victims of
the Deportation of Peoples of Crimea. Homeroom lessons, school-wide assemblies, out-of-class
events, photography and drawing exhibitions, and meetings with witnesses of the deportation are
conducted as part of events held on the occasion of this memorable date11.
20. Further, our Gymnasium has a local history museum called “Blossom of Cultures of
Crimea”. In 2015, the Gymnasium’s teaching staff and students put forward an initiative to create a
local history museum featuring everyday objects, folk craft, traditions and history of peoples living
in the Crimean Peninsula. Such a museum was opened on 26 January 2016. Ethnographic display of
the local history museum “Mosaic of the peoples of Crimea” included cultural items and everyday
objects of various peoples living in Crimea, with the same gathered by the Gymnasium’s students
and teachers. The museum’s exhibits also feature dolls clad in folk costumes of Russians, Ukrainians,
Crimean Tatars, Belarusians, and other ethnicities of the peninsula. In 2017, the Gymnasium’s
museum “Blossom of Cultures of Crimea” finished second in the finals of the All-Russian Contest of
Museums of Educational Organisations of the Russian Federation12.
21. The museum maintains contact with various public organisations, including “Crimean
Society of Krymchaks “Qrımçahlar”, “Regional German National and Cultural Autonomy of the
Republic of Crimea”, Crimean Regional Public Organisation “Vazov Centre of Bulgarian Culture”,
“Crimean Cultural and Educational Society of the Czech “Vltava”, with which the Gymnasium holds
meetings and discussions in order to give publicity to the rich cultural heritage of Crimean ethnic
groups. In 2017, the museum hosted one of such meetings as a roundtable on cooperation between
Ukrainian public associations of the Republic of Crimea with compatriots abroad. The Gymnasium’s
performance groups sang songs and performed dances of various peoples, recited poems in Ukrainian,
German, Bulgarian, Greek, Armenian, Uzbek, Belarusian and Russian, and staged a theatrical
performance in Ukrainian13.
22. I would like to add specifically that the mandatory educational programme does not
feature any political matters. Our children do not write any compositions, for example, themed on
“Crimean Spring” or “Future of the Russian Crimea” in class. And even when our educational work
10 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Anniversary of Amet-Khan Sultan”, 25 October 2020 (Annex
1137).
11 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Day of Remembrance for the victims of the deportation of the
peoples of Crimea (PHOTO)”, 18 May 2015 (Annex 1059); Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Day of
Remembrance for the victims of the deportation from Crimea (PHOTO)”, 19 May 2018 (Annex 1088).
12 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Results of the All-Russian Contest of museums of educational
organisations of the Russian Federation in Moscow (PHOTO)”, 3 October 2017 (Annex 1073).
13 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “On the meeting of gymnasium students with public representatives
and foreign guests on issues of cooperation of Ukrainian public associations (PHOTO)”, 10 October 2017 (Annex 1074).
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concerns any events associated with important and commemorative dates for Crimeans, such as the
Day of Crimea’s Reunification with Russia or the National Flag Day of the Republic of Crimea where
students can recite poems, sing songs, and draw – they do so voluntarily, willingly and with pleasure.
23. The Gymnasium’s educational work includes a number of events aimed at combating
extremism and terrorism and other socially dangerous phenomena, and the curriculum provides for
homeroom lessons where such topics are raised. For instance, the rights and obligations and types of
liability of minors for socially dangerous acts were explained to students as part of the programme
“Preventing manifestations of extremism and terrorism”14. As part of extracurricular activities, for
example, on the Day of Solidarity in the Fight against Terrorism, homeroom lessons and meetings of
law enforcement officials with students are held during which the latter are told about the danger that
the ideology of terrorism poses, the threat of acts of terrorism, and preventive measures15.
24. Overall, insofar as a gradual shift to Russian as the language of instruction at the
Gymnasium is concerned, I can say that this process was initiated only by students’ parents. If the
Gymnasium had not given students a chance to choose the language of instruction in the 2014/2015
academic year, including the possibility to choose Russian as the language of instruction, the
Gymnasium would have eventually ceased to exist. There would have been simply no one to study
there since students wishing to study in Russian would have moved to other schools with Russian as
the language of instruction. In recent years, graduates of our Gymnasium have mostly enrolled either
at our local Crimean colleges and higher educational institutions or Russian ones. As far as I know,
even students from Ukrainian classes who pass examinations in the Ukrainian language are not
planning to continue their studies in Ukraine. Nevertheless, in providing the right to education in
one’s native language and the right to study one’s native language as envisaged by the educational
laws, the Gymnasium attempts to cater to different educational needs of students by giving them
opportunities, in particular, to study the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages and to be taught in
Ukrainian.
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in the present
witness statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 29 March 2021
14 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Preventing extremism and terrorism”, 1 March 2021 (Annex
1159); Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “On terrorism prevention classes (PHOTO)”, 1 October 2018
(Annex 1090).
15 Simferopol Academic Gymnasium official website, “Events dedicated to the Day of solidarity in the fight against
terrorism (PHOTO)”, 10 September 2017 (Annex 1072).
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Witness Statement of
, 30 March 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I,
.
2. In this witness statement, I will provide information that I know about the functioning of
School No. 3 of Shchelkino, educational processes carried out at that school, and the reasons behind
its closure.
3. School No. 3 was opened as a school with Ukrainian as the language of instruction on the
basis of Order of the Leninsky District State Administration of 18 August 2004 No. 6951. The school
operated for ten years, during which time it never had acquired a separate building or its own facilities
and resources but was located in the building of another school, namely General Educational School
No. 1 of Shchelkino (formerly – the Training and Educational Institution “Lyceum School” No. 1 of
Shchelkino, currently – the Municipal Budgetary Educational Institution Shchelkino Secondary
General Educational School No. 1; hereinafter – “School No. 1”), on which base it was created. Thus,
according to Order of 18 August 2004 No. 228 “On measures pertinent to the establishment of
General Educational School No. 3 of 1–3 levels of Shchelkino of the Leninsky District of the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea”, School No. 3 was provided with about ten rooms in the building
of School No. 12. School No. 3 did not own any furniture, equipment, textbooks and had to borrow
many things from School No. 1. For instance, before School No. 3 had its own seal and stamp, it was
allowed to use those of School No. 13. Similarly, School No. 1 transferred such facilities as desks,
chairs, equipment, and teaching supplies for classrooms to School No. 3.
4. Accommodation at School No. 1 was originally supposed to be temporary, and the school
was to be shortly relocated into a separate building after the reconstruction of a part of School No. 1
1 Ukraine, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Leninsky District State Administration, Order No. 695 “On the creation of
General Educational School No. 3 of 1-3 levels of Shchelkino of the Leninsky District of the Autonomous Republic of
Crimea”, 18 August 2004 (Annex 771).
2 See Order of 18 August 2004 No. 228 “On measures pertinent to the establishment of General Educational School No.
3 of 1–3 levels of Shchelkino of the Leninsky District of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea” in Ukraine, Leninsky
District State Administration, Orders of Leninsky District Education Department (Annex 772).
3 Ibid.
Translation
Annex 3
1
2
that was closed for emergency reasons back in 1993. As it follows from a historical background set
out in the 2013 Certificate of School No. 3 (attached), students’ parents repeatedly asked the
administrations of the Shchelkino town and the Leninsky District, as well as the Ministry of Economic
Affairs of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea to provide funds for the reconstruction of the building
which was planned to be provided to accommodate School No. 3. However, budgetary funds were
never allocated.4 Later on, School No. 3 was provided with additional rooms, namely a headmaster’s
office, a reception room, and a deputy headmasters’ office5. Nevertheless, throughout its existence –
i.e. for ten years until the summer of 2014 – School No. 3 continued operating on the second floor of
the building of School No. 1, whereas School No. 1 was situated on the first and third floors of the
building all this time. Therefore, the two schools – School No. 1 and School No. 3, each with its own
school management, teaching staff, and separate contingent of students – were accommodated on
different floors of the same building.
5. As concerns the educational processes, I know from former headmaster of the School No.
3, , that at the time School No. 3 was opened, all classes were fully formed,
though some of them were rather small in numbers. Before the opening of School No. 3, Shchelkino
had only two educational institutions – School No. 1 and School No. 2. Both schools had Russian as
the language of instruction, but with the establishment of a school with Ukrainian as the language of
instruction, some students of those schools who wished to be instructed in Ukrainian transferred to
School No. 3. The total number of students at School No. 3 was around 100 people at the time of its
opening, and in the subsequent years the total number of the school’s students varied between 120
and 160 people. The school’s teaching staff was fully formed as well.
6. It is worth noting that during the period when Crimea was a part of Ukraine there was a
shortage of high-quality instruction in Ukrainian in Crimean schools. Most Crimean and Ukrainian
higher educational institutions, including those in such large Ukrainian cities as Kiev, Lvov, Kharkov,
provided instruction in Russian. Subject teachers, who subsequently went to work at schools with
Ukrainian as the language of instruction, relied solely on their knowledge of the language since
methodology of teaching in Ukrainian (e.g. in natural science or historical disciplines) was not taught
at Crimean universities.
I can say that we were instructed only in
Russian. The Ukrainian language was studied only as a separate subject as part of the mandatory
educational programme. At first, I
4 School No. 3 of Shchelkino, Certificate for the 2013 reporting year, 18 April 2014 (Annex 663), para. 2.
5 See Order of 4 July 2005 No. 245 “On the distribution of rooms between General Education School No. 1 and General
Education School No. 3 of Shchelkino” in Ukraine, Leninsky District State Administration, Orders of Leninsky District
Education Department (Annex 772).
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. But I believe that teaching in Ukrainian at
Crimean schools largely depended on the desire and personal skills of each teacher since no training
programmes for subject teachers, which would have entitled them to teach in Ukrainian, were ever
implemented in Crimea while it was a part of Ukraine.
7. In my opinion, one of the reasons behind the establishment of a school with Ukrainian as
the language of instruction in Shchelkino in 2004 was that there was a gradual increase in demand
for the instruction in Ukrainian. When choosing the language of instruction, schoolchildren and their
parents focused principally on opportunities for future enrolment in higher educational institutions.
When Crimea was a part of Ukraine at that time, Crimeans for objective reasons saw their future in
Ukraine and, therefore, entered higher educational institutions in Kiev, Kharkov, Lvov, and
Dnipropetrovsk because they were planning to live and work in those cities where they would have
better career and personal opportunities than in Crimea.
8. At the same time, when Crimea was part of Ukraine, the Ukrainian language was studied
at Crimean schools at such a level that could have been insufficient for students to enrol at Ukrainian
higher educational institutions. Perhaps this was primarily due to the fact that the Russian-speaking
population has always prevailed in Crimea, and Russian has enjoyed greater attention since it has
been the main language of communication in both everyday life and the professional domain. In view
of that, the district administration and the local residents supported an initiative to create a school
with Ukrainian as the language of instruction. A regional division of a public organisation advocating
for the Ukrainian language and culture called “Taras Shevchenko All-Ukrainian Society “Prosvita”
was not idle in this respect too; its representatives presented themselves as unofficial supervisors of
the establishment of a Ukrainian school in Shchelkino. However, in essence, their support mostly
consisted in providing literature in Ukrainian published, among others, by the Ukrainian diaspora in
Canada. As a matter of fact, such assistance had no value since access of students to literature from
abroad was eventually limited because the texts were nationalistic and had an overt anti-Russian
rhetoric. As headmaster and a history teacher, I always held the opinion that the educational process
and the school itself had to stay out of politics. For that reason, when representatives of various
nationalistic Ukrainian parties or public organisations visited the school, I tried to make sure that their
propaganda would not reach students. The public organisation “Prosvita” provided no sponsor or
other support in order to raise funds or to search for a separate building for the purposes of
accommodating School No. 3.
9. In 2014, when all Crimean schools had to undergo licensing and accreditation procedures
in Russia, we understood from the outset that School No. 3 would not be accredited considering that
it did not comply with relevant requirements and standards. I presume that if Crimea had remained
part of Ukraine, the school would have continued operating further in breach of relevant requirements
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since the situation with the school having no separate building had already been ignored for years and
years, and no funds were allocated either from the city or district budgets.
10. In the summer of 2014, we submitted a set of documents as part of the licensing procedure,
but, given the school’s unresolved legal status, we knew beforehand what the outcome would be. The
documents were improperly submitted: numerous lines were simply left blank since the school had
no roof or foundation and occupied only one floor of a building. The canteen, sports hall, library –
which practically belonged to School No. 1 – were also assigned to School No. 3.
11. It was coincidental that demand for instruction in Ukrainian plummeted after the 2014
referendum. Back at the end of the 2013/2014 academic year, we held a general parent-teacher
meeting whereat a considerable part of parents filed applications seeking to have the language of
instruction shifted into Russian. Due to transfer of students and teachers to other schools, School
No. 3 of Shchelkino was basically emptied at the end of the summer of 2014, and the only staff
members left were a secretary and me. I enclose the 2014 certificate of School No. 3 evidencing that
as of August 2014 there was no a single student left at the school6. Ultimately, in view of the above
factors, the district administration resolved to shut down School No. 3.
12. In total, there were 138 students at the end of the 2013/2014 academic year. All students
of School No. 3 finished the 2013/2014 academic year under a training programme in the Ukrainian
language and then transferred either to School No. 1 or to School No. 2. Besides, nothing actually
changed for students who moved to School No. 1 since they continued studying in the same school
building as before.
13. After the School No. 3 was closed, a large part of teaching staff along with students
transferred to School No. 1, and some teachers, , transferred to School No. 2. All
those willing to continue working in the educational sphere found employment and went on working
without any problems. Moreover, only Ukrainian philologists wishing to teach the Russian language
required retraining. I know that many of our teachers who used to teach Ukrainian retrained into
teachers of Russian and began to teach Russian. Besides, this retraining was perceived as an
opportunity to master an additional specialty free of charge and in a short period of time. In
circumstances where one could be out of work because of the Ukrainian language being in low
demand, such retraining programmes were perceived in Crimea as government help and support
rather than as a forced necessity imposed from the outside.
14. In addition, mostly teachers of social and humanitarian disciplines – which differed in the
interpretation and presentation of material in Ukraine and Russia – took courses in order to familiarise
themselves with the fundamentals of teaching programmes and teaching methodology of such
subjects at a Russian school. For instance, in the summer of 2014, I attended a course on “Substantive
6 School No. 3 of Shchelkino, Certificate for the 2014 reporting year, 1 August 2014 (Annex 666).
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5
and Methodological Aspects of Teaching National History (“History of Russia” and “Social Studies”
in basic and high school)”, 138 academic hours in total, given by specialists of the Federal Institute for
Educational Development. I personally found this course quite engaging and useful and took it as an
opportunity to get to know various specialists and professionals in their fields and to exchange
experience in teaching historical disciplines.
15. Regarding the shift to Russian as the language of instruction, I can say that I understand
and find appropriate the choice made by students and their parents. Historically, Shchelkino’s
residents are rather pragmatic and make decisions after carefully considering all options. The city was
originally founded as a construction camp of the Crimean Atomic Energy Station and was developing
as a critical centre for the promising nuclear industry. The city was built in a short time-frame and
populated mostly by newcomers (primarily from Russia) who were experts in the nuclear industry.
After the atomic energy station’s construction was suspended and officially frozen in the 1980s,
employment and career opportunities in Shchelkino were becoming less and less optimistic year after
year. Students’ parents in large part want their children – after the latter have obtained secondary
education – to move to large cities, to enrol at higher educational institutions, and to have employment
opportunities in better conditions. In light of this, most local residents made an obvious decision after
the 2014 referendum that their children would try to enter Russian higher educational institutions.
Accordingly, the choice of Russian as the language of instruction was a result of a well-considered
and pragmatic decision made by parents.
16. At the same time, I cannot say that, after shifting to Russian as the language of instruction,
the Ukrainian language or culture were instantly forgotten at schools, let alone say that any
manifestations of Ukrainian identity were in any way prohibited or negatively treated in Crimea. For
instance, School No. 2, where I am currently working, annually holds a festival of peoples at which
students choose any ethnicity they wish to represent and prepare performances in the form of short
theatrical performances, national dances, or songs. Ukrainian ethnicity has been represented every
year and for many years, and everyone welcomes this. Students take part in such events with great
pleasure and enthusiasm.
17. In light of the above, it would be utterly wrong to say that the closure of School No. 3 of
Shchelkino has anything to do with harassment of, or pressure upon, ethnic Crimean schools. If
Shchelkino residents now expressed a wish to have their children instructed in Ukrainian or at least
study Ukrainian as a native language, I believe that the local administration and the teaching staff of
the two schools would provide them with this opportunity. The reduction in numbers of schools and
classes with Ukrainian as the language of instruction in Crimea has occurred for several objective
reasons: most notably, even when Crimea was part of Ukraine, children did not develop an interest
for Ukrainian, and there was no state methodological support for programmes with instruction in
Ukrainian. The reason behind the current situation of the Ukrainian language in Crimea lies in the
absence of appropriate measures that should have been taken to preserve and develop the Ukrainian
Annex 3
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language even before 2014, in particular, when it comes to cultivating an interest in studying the
language among the traditionally Russian-speaking population of Crimea.
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in the present
witness statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 30 March 2021
Annex 3
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Annex 4
Witness Statement of
1 April 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, the Municipal Budgetary
General Educational Institution - the Training and Educational Centre “School Academy” of the city
of Bakhchisaray of the Republic of Crimea (formerly – Bakhchisaray General Educational School
No. 4 of 1–3 Levels; hereinafter – the “School” or the “School Academy”). I graduated from the
I have worked in the educational sphere for around 28 years. I hold the position of
of the School Academy since and before that
2. In this witness statement, I will provide information about the education process in
Ukrainian at the School Academy before Crimea’s reunification with Russia and what opportunities
our students now have to study the Ukrainian language and to familiarise themselves with Ukrainian
culture.
3. Originally, the School Academy was founded in Bakhchisaray in 1980 as a school with
Russian as the language of instruction, but then, in the early 2000s, classes with Ukrainian as the
language of instruction were created on the initiative of the school administration and on the basis of
parents’ applications. When I came to work at the School, each grade level had between four and six
classes, of which there was only one class with Ukrainian as the language of instruction1, with the
remaining classes with Russian as the language of instruction. At the same time, in classes with
Russian as the language of instruction the subjects “Ukrainian Language” (as state language) and
“Russian Language” were included in the invariant part of the curriculum and in classes with
Ukrainian as the language of instruction the subject “Russian language” was studied as part of the
regional component2 and the educational organisation component.
4. After the 2014 referendum, students’ parents and teachers of the School were
obviously interested in how the educational process would be structured in the future, what changes
would be made in educational programmes, and what language would be used for instruction.
1 School Academy of Bakhchisaray, Information about students studying at the School Academy between 2008 and 2021
(Annex 734).
2 “Regional component” means a part of the educational process focused on the study of one’s native language, literature,
history, and culture of one’s native region, with the content and scope of which depending on natural and environmental,
geographic, ethnic, social and economic, historical and cultural features of a region.
Translation
Annex 4
1
2
However, no changes were made into educational programmes in the 2013/2014 academic year, and
all students of Ukrainian classes – from the 1st to the 11th grades – continued education in Ukrainian.
Once the academic year was over, we held parent-teacher meetings in each class in the summer of
2014 in order to clarify all matters. At these meetings, students’ parents were told and explained that,
if they wished so, the School could implement educational programmes both in Russian and in
Ukrainian. We collected applications from students’ parents, wherein they specified the desired
language of instruction. In that application, they separately specified the desired language of study
from among the official languages of the republic that was supposed to be studied as a separate
subject. In addition to the parent-teacher meetings, we also conducted a survey among parents of all
students of the School. Eventually, on the basis of applications of students’ parents, all students of
the Ukrainian classes switched to Russian as the language of instruction in the 2014/2015 academic
year. However, the classes themselves were not reorganised in any manner and remained the same as
before in terms of the number and contingent of students.
5. It is worth noting that each year we monitor the views of the students’ parents as to the
desired language of instruction and the desired language of study. We have not had a single class with
Ukrainian as the language of instruction since the 2014/2015 academic year to date. However, the
study of the Ukrainian language on an extracurricular basis was carried out at our School Academy
in the 2014/2015 academic year and in the subsequent years. I enclose to this witness statement a
table containing statistics on the number of students studying Ukrainian at our School both before
and after 2014.3 As it follows from the enclosed table, the Ukrainian language was studied on an
extracurricular basis until the end of the 2017/2018 academic year. Students’ parents have filed no
applications for the study of Ukrainian as a native language in any form in the 2018/2019 academic
year and afterwards.
6. As of now, our School can meet the demand for studying Ukrainian, if such a demand
arises. We still have teachers specialised in the Ukrainian language and literature, therefore, if needed,
we can form groups and resume the study of Ukrainian.
7. Moreover, the Crimean Tatar language has been studied at our School as an
extracurricular activity over the last few years. The enclosed table provides information concerning
the number of relevant students4. At the same time, the matter of instruction in Crimean Tatar has
never been raised at our School since the Bakhchisaray Secondary General Educational School No. 5
3 School Academy of Bakhchisaray, Information about students studying at the School Academy between 2008 and 2021
(Annex 734).
4 Ibid.
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with Russian and Crimean Tatar as the languages of instruction is located nearby, and children
wishing to be taught in Crimean Tatar choose to enter that school at the outset of their studies.
8. Insofar as the contingent of students of our School is concerned, I can say that the
number of students ever increased year after year between 2014 and 2020. Dynamics of these changes
in the contingent of our students is also reflected in the enclosed table providing information about
students of our School Academy5. In 2014–2015, we also admitted children from families that moved
from Donetsk and Lugansk. When we were admitting children to the School, their parents also filed
applications concerning the language of instruction and the language that they wish to study. All
entrants chose the Russian language since it was easy for everyone to be taught in Russian. Perhaps
also because, for many of them Russian was a native language.
9. After Crimea reunited with Russia, the contingent of teachers has barely changed:
some teachers retired, and new teachers came in to replace them. Philology teachers who taught the
Ukrainian language and literature underwent retraining and continued working at the School as either
the Russian language and literature teachers or primary school teachers. Moreover, during the period
when Ukrainian was yet studied as a separate subject at our School (namely between 2014 and 2018),
they continued teaching Ukrainian as well.
10. During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, many graduates of our School
moved to the mainland to enter higher educational institutions of Kiev, Lvov, and Kharkov. However,
the situation changed after Crimea’s reunification with Russia: our graduates have mostly enrolled
either at local Crimean higher educational institutions or those of other Russian cities over the recent
years. In my view, the prospects for future education and careers, and opportunities for career
development largely determine the choice of the language of education. Whereas some students of
our School opted for instruction in Ukrainian before 2014, their number was insignificant even back
then (as evidenced by the table on students of the School) and they all wished to be taught in Russian
after Crimea became part of Russia. Students of our School have continued to choose instruction in
Russian over the past seven years, though we still have capacities to provide education in Ukrainian.
11. In its education and training process, our School pays great attention to the study of
geography, history, and culture of ethnic groups of the Crimean Peninsula in general and of some of
its territories in particular. “Crimean studies” as a subject is taught in the 6th grade, and in the 7th and
8th grades on an extracurricular basis. I attach to this witness statement extracts from an educational
programme of the course “Crimean Studies” for the 6th grade6.
5 Ibid.
6 School Academy of Bakhchisaray, Educational programme on “Crimean Studies” for 6th grade, 2020 (Annex 727).
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12. Apart from the educational course, our School also organises various cultural and
educational events for students aimed at cultivating patriotism, love for, and pride in their “small
Motherland”. Our School celebrates the Day of the Republic of Crimea every year on 20 January.
Various festive events and activities are traditionally organised on that day, with children reciting
poetry in Crimean Tatar, Russian, and Ukrainian7.
13. In 2020, the School held a thematic class in celebration of the 100th anniversary of
Amet-Khan Sultan, twice the Hero of the Soviet Union, a merited test pilot and a Crimean Tatar born
in Crimea. During a class “Heroes of the Crimean Land”, students learnt about the biographies of
Crimeans who received the honorary title of Hero of the Soviet Union8.
14. In addition, students of our School always actively participate in municipal and
republican contests organised with a view to attracting children’s attention to studying and preserving
the environmental and cultural heritage of Crimea, cultivating patriotism to one’s “small
Motherland”, and finding young talents. For example, there is a photographic competition “We are
United by Crimea” held by the Bakhchisaray District’s administration in 20209, a republican festival
competition of children’s works “Crimea is in My Heart” held in Crimea since 2012 that encompasses
various forms and types of art: vocal performance, various styles of choreography, visual and
decorative and applied arts, and creative writing10. This year students of our School have become
winners and taken the second and third places in different nominations at a municipal level of a
republican contest of young photo artists “Crimea is a Peninsula of One’s Dream”11.
15. I would like especially to note that children have always voluntarily participated in all
contests, and no one has ever coerced them into doing that. Various contests of creative works are
generally held on the eve of state and republican holidays. For instance, in celebration of the Day of
Crimea’s Reunification with Russia, one can organise a contest on the best essay or the best drawing,
including on topics associated with Crimea’s reunification with Russia. However, as I have already
explained, children take part in such contests only if they wish so. And of course, such essay topics
are never offered to students during lessons provided in the main educational programme.
7 See video “Day of the Republic of Crimea”, 20 January 2021, with children reciting poetry in Crimean Tatar, Russian
and Ukrainian, published at the School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website:
https://2109.krymschool.ru/site/pub?id=1743.
8 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “Heroes of the Crimean Land”, 19 October 2020 (Annex 1134).
9 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “District photographic competition ‘We are united by Crimea’ (4-
D)”, 14 October 2020 (Annex 1132).
10 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “‘Crimea is in my heart’ – 2020 (4-D Class)”, 25 October 2020
(Annex 1136).
11 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “Congratulations to the winners ‘Crimea is a Peninsula of one’s
dream’ (4-D class)”, 18 January 2021 (Annex 1154).
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16. As one of the extracurricular activities at our School there is a club “Excursions around
One’s Native Land” with a view on reinforcing a regional component of the educational programme,
engaging children in researching and studying the spiritual heritage of their native land, its culture,
history and nature, and providing for their aesthetic and moral upbringing. Within that excursion club,
students of our School periodically visit ethnographic and historical sections of a museum of history
and culture of Crimean Tatars12 of the Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum
Reserve13 where they have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the cultural heritage,
traditions, activities, and crafts of Crimean Tatars. There are also excursions to Old Town – a
medieval fortress city near Bakhchisaray, and Zincirli Madrasa – a Crimean Islamic science centre in
Salachik14.
17. As there is a fairly large number of different ethnicities and ethnic groups and
representatives of different confessions living in Crimea, considerable attention is paid to issues of
friendship and mutual understanding among peoples, tolerance and respect for cultural and religious
identity as part of the School’s educational and training activities. Our School held the following
events in 2020 as part of the Week of Tolerance: a festival of tolerance “Circle Dance of Friendship”,
an extracurricular event “Ode to Tolerance”, a homeroom class “You and I are a Close-Knit
Family”15. Our School has celebrated the International Day for Tolerance for many years: students
choose any ethnicity and stage performances representing this ethnicity in the form of a song, folk
dance, or demonstrating features of national costumes16.
18. For several consecutive years, our School has hosted a “Large Ethnographic Dictation”
as part of an international event held on the occasion of the National Unity Day. This educational
project serves to acquaint one with the culture of peoples living in Russia and allows assessing the
general level of ethno-cultural competence among the population17.
19. Moreover, our School holds events intended to prevent the spread of the ideology of
terrorism and extremism in the educational environment. Young people are now drawn into
extremism on an ever-increasing scale, which entails dangerous consequences for the future of our
children and society at large. In view of that, the essence and public danger of terrorism and
12 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “Ethnographic museum”, 13 March 2017 (Annex 1068).
13 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “Visit to the Khan’s Palace”, 14 November 2016 (Annex 1061);
School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “Visit of an exhibition in the Khan Palace”, 10 October 2016 (Annex
1222).
14 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “Excursion to Zincirli Madrasa”, 6 November 2020 (Annex 1142).
15 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “Week of tolerance”, 22 November 2020 (Annex 1145); School
Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “International day for tolerance”, 17 November 2020 (Annex 1144).
16 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “Like the colours of the rainbow, we are united forever!”,
4 December 2018 (Annex 1092).
17 School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “International event ‘Large ethnographic dictation’”, 9 November
2020 (Annex 1143).
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extremism are clarified at Russian schools at all levels of education. As per a developed plan
(attached), we hold a number of events relating to anti-terrorism security and information campaigns
against terrorist acts and extremism prevention among students of various ages18. The plan of action
sets out that homeroom classes, quizzes, briefings, meetings, extracurricular activities – which are
aimed at informing students about the main social dangers – are held throughout an academic year.
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information set forth in this witness
statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 1 April 2021
18 School Academy of Bakhchisaray, Plan of action against acts of terrorism and extremism prevention for the 2020–2021
academic year (Annex 726); School Academy of Bakhchisaray official website, “We are against terror (9-D class)”,
12 September 2020 (Annex 1129).
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Witness Statement of
21 April 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, at the Municipal Budgetary
General Educational Institution “School No. 20 of Feodosia of the Republic of Crimea” (urban-type
village of Primorsky, Feodosia, Republic of Crimea, Russia; hereinafter referred to as the “School”
or “School No. 20”). I have worked at this School : initially I held the position of the
,
2. As far as I am aware, our School was and still remains one of the few schools in Crimea
with instruction in Ukrainian. It used to be so when Crimea was part of Ukraine and it is still so at
present. In this witness statement, I provide information about the functioning of School No. 20 of
Feodosia and what opportunities students of our School have to be instructed in Ukrainian and to
study Ukrainian as a separate subject.
3. School No. 20 was opened on 15 August 1998 as a general educational institution with
Ukrainian as the language of instruction in urban-type village of Primorsky of Feodosia.
Zoya Mikhaylovna Bogatova, a teacher of Ukrainian working at that time at the General Educational
School No. 7 of the urban-type village of Primorsky came up with an idea of establishment of a
Ukrainian school. This initiative was supported by the village residents and the local administration,
and eventually the building of a former kindergarten was provided to the school. Zoya Mikhaylovna
Bogatova made a significant contribution to the development of the Ukrainian school acting as its
headmaster for over than 15 years. In 2015, Zoya Mikhaylovna retired and was replaced by Natalia
Nikolaevna Stepunina-Kopylova who has worked at that school since 2007.
4. It should be specifically noted that, when I went to school, I lived in the village of Primorsky
and attended that very same School No. 7 where Zoya Mikhaylovna Bogatova used to work. Zoya
Mikhaylovna was my Ukrainian language and literature teacher, and it was she who cultivated my
interest in studying the Ukrainian language, the creative works and culture of the Ukrainian people.
After graduating from institute and obtaining the qualification of a Ukrainian teacher, I was happy to
accept a proposal of my former teacher and took up employment at a school with Ukrainian as the
language of instruction.
Translation
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5. When School No. 20 was opened, it received a special status; the school was not attached
to any micro-district, meaning that the contingent of students was formed by children living also in
the surrounding residential settlements. For instance, there was a military unit near the village of
Primorsky, and a large number of children from military families therefore attended our school.
6. The School’s status remains the same at present: we still admit children wishing to be taught
in Ukrainian from across the village and the surrounding residential settlements. The village of
Primorsky (Feodosia) has only three schools, two of which are schools with instruction in Russian,
and the third one is our School with Ukrainian as the language of instruction.
7. Given that the School is housed in the building of a former kindergarten, its design
capacities are rather limited. The number of student places which an educational institution is
intended to accommodate directly depends on the design capacities of a school. The maximum
capacity of each classroom at our School is 20 students. No more than 170 students were taught at
School No. 20 prior to 2013, and it is only in the 2013/2014 academic year that the number of students
exceeded 180 people for the first time1.
8. I am aware of situations when children left the School immediately after the 2014
referendum but there were not many of them. It is now difficult for me to name the exact figure but I
estimate it to be between five and seven people. Many of those who finally left the School finished
the academic year and left the School in the summer of 2014. As far as I know, some ten students of
our School moved with their families to Ukraine. As I have already said, we had children from
military families, and I can assume that the greater part of those who left were from those families.
Besides, many students moved to Russian-language schools in light of changed preferences for the
language of instruction. Overall, around 30 students left the School between 2014 and 2015 for
various reasons.
9. In my view, the reasons for which students transferred to Russian-language schools were
primarily related to the choice in favour of further study at Russian educational institutions. Students
in Crimea had opportunities to enrol at Russian higher educational institutions even before 2014, but
graduates had to go to Russia as to a foreign country at that time, and not everyone could afford that.
Crimea’s reunification with Russia sparked greater opportunities, created favourable conditions and
promising offerings, and the number of graduates entering Russian higher educational institutions
therefore considerably increased. Today Crimean students have an opportunity to enrol at Ukrainian
higher educational institutions as well, however, they face significant difficulties in doing so.
Unfortunately, after 2014, Ukraine has stopped accepting graduation certificates issued by Crimean
schools. In light of this development, students wishing to continue their studies in Ukrainian
1 School No. 20 of Feodosia, Information on students studying between the 2008/2009 academic year and the
2020/2021 academic year (Annex 730).
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educational institutions have to study simultaneously (via distance or external learning) at Ukrainian
schools in order to obtain Ukrainian school diplomas. The number of students planning to enrol at
Ukrainian higher educational institutions is gradually decreasing year after year. As a result, there are
but isolated cases of people moving to Ukraine in order to continue their studies there. Thus,
Ukraine’s own policy of the non-recognition of our schools and our work discourages children from
studying Ukrainian here in Crimea.
10. I presume that another reason why children left our School for schools with instruction in
Russian in 2014 lies in the fact that their parents understood that Ukrainian was in low demand,
therefore believing that there were no future prospects if their children studied Ukrainian and were
instructed in Ukrainian. Further, students’ parents did not know and were concerned about what
documents were to be issued after graduation from school and what opportunities for further study
their children, who were previously instructed in Ukrainian, would have. However all doubts and
concerns dispersed over time, and numerous students who moved to schools with instruction in
Russian in 2014 eventually returned to our School in the following years and finished their studies
here. In particular, the contingent of students of our School has gradually increased since 2015. This
pattern of increase in the contingent of students can be observed in an enclosed table featuring the
number of students at the Municipal Budgetary General Educational Institution “School No. 20 of
Feodosia of the Republic of Crimea”2. There has been no outflow of students after 2015 any longer,
and all of our classes are fully packed now. There are 181 students at the School as at the beginning
of the 2020/2021 academic year.
11. We experience no difficulties with the recruitment of staff members for teaching students
in Ukrainian. Many teachers have worked at School No. 20 since its establishment. The research and
teaching staff of the School periodically take advanced training courses at the Crimean Republican
Institute of Post-Diploma Pedagogical Education. I personally obtained an additional qualification of
a primary school teacher in 2016 and have worked as a primary school teacher to this day.
12. According to Russian law and Law of the Republic of Crimea of 6 July 2015 No. 131-
ZRK/2015 “On education in the Republic of Crimea”, primary general education (grades 1–4) and
basic general education (grades 5–9) are provided in one of the official languages of the Republic of
Crimea (Crimean Tatar, Russian, or Ukrainian) as decided by students’ parents (legal
representatives). At our School educational activities in the area of teaching and studying separate
subjects, courses, disciplines (except for such subjects as “Russian”, “Literature Reading”,
“Literature”, and “History”), and tutorial work with students are carried out in Ukrainian in grades
2 School No. 20 of Feodosia, Information on students studying between the 2008/2009 academic year and the 2020/2021
academic year (Annex 730).
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1–9. Students are instructed in the official language of the Russian Federation (Russian) in grades
10–11 (secondary general education)3.
13. Ukrainian as a subject is studied in grades 1–11: as school subjects of the mandatory
curriculum “Native Language (Ukrainian)” and “Literature Reading in One’s Native Language
(Ukrainian)” in grades 1–4, as school subjects of the mandatory curriculum “Native Language
(Ukrainian)” and “One’s Literature in Native Language (Ukrainian)” in grades 5–9, within the
framework of the component of the general educational organisation “Ukrainian Language” and
“Ukrainian Literature” in grades 10–11. The number of hours assigned to the study of Ukrainian
literature has not changed as compared with that in Ukrainian period; the number of hours assigned
to the study of Ukrainian has decreased by one hour. This is mostly due to the fact that, when Crimea
was part of Ukraine, examinations on Ukrainian were mandatory in graduating classes and therefore
required more time for preparation. By contrast, parents and students – apart from studying Russian
as a school subject of the mandatory curriculum – now choose to study “Russian Language” on an
extracurricular basis in order to have more hours to prepare for final examinations.
14. As regards our School, I can say that, after Crimea became part of Russia, children’s
parents or legal representatives have been free to choose Ukrainian as the language of instruction,
and I am not aware of any cases when students or their parents have ever been pressured because of
their choice or have been urged to shift to instruction in Russian. We all lead a peaceful life in our
village and have received no complaints or claims from students’ parents. As I have already
mentioned, our School is rather small, and we have a friendly and united team because of that; all
teachers know all students of the School by name, with no question remaining unanswered and each
student receiving attention.
15. Given the language situation in Crimea and taking into account the historically prevailing
Russian-speaking population on the peninsula, it is quite natural that it is not possible to organise the
educational process at school solely in Ukrainian without resorting to Russian. An opportunity to
carry out educational activities on a bilingual basis (in Ukrainian and Russian) is now provided for in
the Regulation on the Languages of Education of School No. 204. Considering that all students and
teachers of the School are Russian-speaking, it is hard to imagine a situation when instruction would
be exclusively in Ukrainian. Besides, students themselves speak Russian out-of-class, during breaks,
and in everyday life. At the same time, students keep their school diaries and workbooks in Ukrainian
and can speak in either Ukrainian or Russian when giving verbal answers. Class schedules are drawn
up in both Russian and Ukrainian5.
3 School No. 20 of Feodosia, Regulation on the languages of education, 2018 (Annex 702).
4 School No. 20 of Feodosia, Regulation on the languages of education, 2018 (Annex 702).
5 School No. 20 of Feodosia, Class Schedule for primary school grades in the Ukrainian language (Annex 731).
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16. At present, our School has new textbooks in Ukrainian on “Ukrainian Language (Native)”
and “Literature Reading” subjects for grades 1–46. It is allowed to use old textbooks published in
Ukrainian period to study the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian literature7. As far as I am aware,
textbooks on the Ukrainian language and literature for grades 5–9 are being prepared, and I know
several Ukrainian teachers who are involved in the preparation of such textbooks. We use textbooks
in Russian for all other subjects. In my opinion, there are no textbooks in Ukrainian because there is
no demand for such textbooks among the majority of schools since, as far as I know, our School is
the only school in Crimea with Ukrainian as the language of instruction. Some Crimean schools might
still have classes with instruction in Ukrainian, but their number is insufficient for creating a demand
for the development and publication of separate textbooks on other subjects. At the same time the
School’s teachers use methodological recommendations and study guides compiled in the Ukrainian
language and for grades 1–9 they individually develop course schedules that regulate teachers’
activities in terms of pursing curricula for the subjects, in the Ukrainian language as well. Class books
for grades 1–9 are also kept in the language of instruction (Ukrainian).
17. Students of our School study a number of schools subjects of the mandatory curriculum
and attend courses on an extracurricular basis, with the same including, among other things, topics
on the history and culture of one’s native land that integrate ethno-cultural, historical, and geographic
knowledge that give schoolchildren an idea of ethnic groups living on the Crimean Peninsula, various
ethnicities and confessions. For instance, students of the 4th grade study the subject “Fundamentals
of Religious Cultures and Secular Ethics” as part of the mandatory curriculum, while students of the
5th grade study “Fundamentals of Spiritual and Moral Culture of Peoples of Russia”. As part of
extracurricular activities, students of grades 5–9 attend the course “Crimean Studies” where they
explore the traditions, culture, and everyday life of peoples living in the territory of Crimea, including
the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people. Furthermore, the general intellectual extracurricular
activities in grades 5–9 include the course “History of Crimea”8.
18. Students of our School can take part in writing contests in one’s native language on such
topics, for instance, as “Crimean Spring”, “On the Crimean Spring in One’s Native Language” and
others. However there is no obligation to participate in such contests since they are held as contest
essays. I find this practice normal because it is part of our history in which we were all involved and
which can and should be assessed by our children. During examinations and tests within the school
curriculum neutral topics unrelated to politics, religion, or acute social issues are used.
6 School No. 20 of Feodosia, Photographs of study guides on the Ukrainian language and literature published by the
Russian publishing house “Prosveshchenie” (Annex 1147).
7 School No. 20 of Feodosia, Photographs of textbooks on the Ukrainian language and literature published by Ukrainian
publishing houses and used in class in grades 5–11 (Annex 1148).
8 School No. 20 of Feodosia, Curriculum for the 2020/2021 academic year (Annex 724).
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19. Every year our students participate in academic competitions on Ukrainian and take
award-winning places at a regional level. Besides, students of our School take an active part in the
All-Crimean Creativity Competition “Language is the Soul of a People” as part of the International
Mother Language Day, during which children present their creative works in Ukrainian in various
categories. In October 2021, our School is hosting a seminar for tutors and preschool teachers of
Feodosia educational institutions called “Traditions of the Ukrainian People and Modernity”. This
seminar will serve as a forum for exchanging experience in organising the teaching of academic
subjects and educational work in Ukrainian.
20. Extracurricular activities of our School include various events, with all school assemblies,
concerts, festive performances, homeroom lessons, and seminars necessarily held in two languages:
Ukrainian and Russian. Not a single festive event is held at our School without a folk song in
Ukrainian or a dance in national costumes.
21. Meanwhile, there were not many cultural events held in Ukrainian or dedicated to
Ukrainian culture in Feodosia even when Crimea was part of Ukraine. It could have been possible to
attend a play or concert in Ukrainian when Ukrainian theatre companies or pop singers came on tour
from other cities. But, frankly speaking, I personally do not recall whether there were such cases or
not.
22. Our School very often admits children who used to have no command of Ukrainian at all.
Aside from teaching Ukrainian to them, we attempt to foster their interest in the culture and creative
works of the Ukrainian people. I assume that parents want their children to study at our School
because they think that bilingual education generally contributes to the development of children,
improves their abilities, and helps them to have an advantage when choosing their profession or
seeking employment in the future. Students of our School basically study three languages – Russian,
Ukrainian, and a foreign one – which without doubt gives them such an advantage.
I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information set forth in this witness
statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 21 April 2021
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Witness Statement of
, 21 April 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, , have worked as a at the Municipal
Budgetary General Educational Institution of Kerch of the Republic of Crimea “School No. 9”
(Kerch, Republic of Crimea, Russia; hereinafter referred to as “School No. 9” or the “School”) since
. I have worked in this educational institution for over 35 years, and the School has undergone a
number of changes over this period, including shifting of the language of instruction a number of
times.
2. In this witness statement, I will provide information about some of the key stages in the
functioning of School No. 9, including, at first, the transition from instruction in Russian into
Ukrainian in the 2000s and then from Ukrainian into Russian after Crimea’s accession to the
Russian Federation.
3. Opened in 1905, our School is the oldest general educational institution in Kerch.
The number, name, and status of the School have repeatedly changed throughout its existence.
Established in the early 20th century, the Kerch and Yeni-Kale Trade School named after Tsesarevich
Alexey turned into a general education secondary school in 1917, was completely demolished during
the Great Patriotic War and rebuilt only in 1956, becoming Incomplete Secondary School No. 9
named after P.P. Shmidt (with 8 grades) in 1964. Up to 2003, the School provided primary and
incomplete secondary education (9 grades), with education under educational programmes of
complete secondary education (11 grades) introduced in 2004. Since its opening, and for almost a
century, educational activities at the School had been carried out exclusively in Russian. And only in
2004 along with introduction of complete secondary education the School shifted into instruction in
Ukrainian for all subjects.
4. All schools in Kerch provided education in Russian before 2004. The administration of
School No. 9 proposed to shift to Ukrainian as the language of instruction in the early 2000s since it
was believed that that would enhance the prestige of the School, make it unique and different from
the other general educational institutions in Kerch. However, after Ukrainian became the language of
instruction, the teaching staff remained the same. Most of the teaching staff knew Ukrainian but few
used it. Many teachers had to study Ukrainian on their own in order to be able to teach various subjects
in that language. The School received textbooks in Ukrainian from Kiev but there was still a shortage
of them for some subjects.
Translation
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5. In 2014, after Crimea became part of the Russian Federation, the School once again
changed its status into a general educational school with Russian as the language of instruction.
Obviously, transition into instruction in Russian did not happen overnight and was not spontaneous.
In the 2013/2014 academic year, students of all grades finished the academic year under educational
programmes in Ukrainian. In April–May 2014, parent-teacher meetings were held in every class, and
students’ parents (legal representatives) were informed that they could choose a language of
instruction (Ukrainian, Russian or Crimean Tatar) for the next academic year. Further, opinion polls
and questionnaire surveys regarding the preferred language of instruction were conducted among
students’ parents (legal representatives). In the end, all students’ parents (legal representatives)
without exception filed applications requesting that instruction be shifted into Russian in the next
academic year at our School. In view of this, as desired by students’ parents (legal representatives),
all subjects in all grades were taught in Russian in the 2014/2015 academic year. Since 2014, at the
end of every academic year, the School has tracked opinions of parents (legal representatives) of the
students at the School. However, the School has not received a single application for instruction in
Ukrainian since then.
6. Aside from opportunities to obtain primary general and basic general education in one’s
native languages (Crimean Tatar, Russian and Ukrainian), according to Russian law, students of our
School are also offered an opportunity to study the native languages of peoples of the Russian
Federation living in the Republic of Crimea. Students’ parents (legal representatives) file applications
where they choose the language of study for the subject “Native Language” when children enter the
1st grade and when students move to the next level of education: basic general education (5th grade)
and secondary general education (10th grade). To ensure separate studies of native languages by the
students, the School creates a sufficient number of classes or groups in order to meet the needs of all
students and their parents, where possible.
7. For instance, 265 students studied Ukrainian as a subject in the 2014/2015 academic year
with a relevant information reflected afterwards in a graduation certificate. However, only 39 students
wished to study Ukrainian as their native language in the next 2015/2016 academic year. I enclose a
table with information about students of School No. 9 setting out relevant data concerning the
language of instruction and the language of study1. Additionally, whereas in the 2014/2015 academic
year Ukrainian was still studied as a subject of the main curriculum, in the 2015/2016 academic year
it was studied on an extracurricular basis only in grades 1–4 based on the applications filed by
1 School No. 9 of Kerch, Information on number of students studying at School No. 9 of Kerch between 2012/2013
academic year and 2020/2021 academic year (Annex 740).
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students’ parents. According to the working curriculum of our School for the 2015/2016 academic
year, two hours per week were assigned to the course “The Ukrainian language”2.
8. Only three students continued studying Ukrainian in the 2016/2017 academic year and only
one – in the 2017/2018 academic year. Despite the fact that the number of students wishing to study
Ukrainian was very low in the above period, the School was nevertheless able to meet that
insignificant demand by organising and providing the study of the language as part of tutorial
activities under supplementary educational programmes. Moreover, to my knowledge, it was only
students’ parents who proposed and wished to have their children study Ukrainian, while the students
themselves took no interest in the language and skipped classes for several months.
9. Since the 2017/2018 academic year to date, our School has not received a single application
for the study of Ukrainian in any form. If students’ parents (legal representatives) expressed a wish
to have their children instructed in Ukrainian or study Ukrainian within the main curriculum as a
native language or on an extracurricular basis, then, irrespective of the number of such applicants, the
School would be able to provide them with this opportunity. I believe that if the School now receives
at least one application for the study of Ukrainian, the teaching staff will organise and provide it on
an extracurricular basis or as part of tutorial activities.
10. Further, it should be noted that the contingent of students at our School has been ever
increasing year after year since 2014. For example, we had 276 students in the 2012/2013 academic
year, whereas this number increased up to 375 students in the 2017/2018 academic year. Today our
School has 467 students3.
11. A similar trend has occurred with regard to the changes in the contingent of the School’s
teaching staff: we had 18 teachers in 2014, and today the research and pedagogical staff has increased
up to 27. Our School still has some teachers specialised in “The Ukrainian Language and Literature”.
After 2014, they had to obtain additional qualifications or to retrain into teachers of other specialties.
I personally remember teachers of “The Ukrainian Language and Literature” going from class to
class, attending parent-teacher meetings, offering their services, and encouraging students and their
parents to continue studying Ukrainian. But the number of students wishing to study Ukrainian was
only decreasing. In consequence, to continue working at the School, the teachers had to retrain into
teachers of other specialties. As far as I know, one of those teachers now works in the field of “The
Russian Language and Literature”, another one teaches in primary school, and another one has
retrained into an after-school teacher and also continues to work.
2 School No. 9 of Kerch, Working Curriculum for the 2015/2016 academic year (Annex 674).
3 School No. 9 of Kerch, Information on number of students studying at School No. 9 of Kerch between 2012/2013
academic year and 2020/2021 academic year (Annex 740).
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12. Students’ parents did not complain about the School’s transition into instruction in
Russian. There was no backlash because the students’ parents themselves requested that Russian
become the language of instruction. In my view, this initiative originated as the population of Kerch
is predominantly Russian-speaking. The School introduced instruction in Ukrainian in the 2000s
because it was relevant at the time: Crimea was part of Ukraine, the subject “Ukrainian Language”
was included in the mandatory curriculum of all grades, and all Crimean schoolchildren had to take
a final examination on Ukrainian. After the 2014 referendum, Crimeans were offered to choose the
language of instruction, and I can confidently state that – insofar as our School is concerned at least
– Russian was chosen unanimously.
13. Over the last seven years, graduates of our School have preferred to enter Russian higher
educational institutions operating either in Crimea or in mainland Russia. It is for this reason that
parents and students make a conscious choice in favour of instruction in, and study of, Russian with
a view of obtaining secondary vocational or higher education in Russia.
14. To learn the history and culture of their native land, students of grades 1–9 study the
subject “Crimean Studies” as part of extracurricular activities, which also instils basic national values
in them. When studying it, students consider such topics as the diversity of ethnic groups living on
the Crimean Peninsula, the geography, historical past, culture, and economy of the Crimean Peninsula
in general and some of its territories in particular4. Increased attention is paid to the study of one’s
native region, and the curriculum provides for educational excursions and practical works involving
local regional material.
15. The main curriculum does not provide for any written or creative works on any political
or religious topics. Offers to participate in creativity contests on such topics as “Crimean Spring”,
“My Contribution to the Future of the Russian Crimea”, “Russia and Crimea – We are Together”,
which are held on the occasion of public and republican holidays, may come but students decide
themselves whether to take part in them or not.
16. Unfortunately, extremism and terrorism constitute a real threat to national security
nowadays, and, to counter them, the school curriculum addresses such issues as formation of antiextremist
thinking and anti-terrorist behaviour and informed compliance with safety rules. For
instance, the ideologies of terrorism and extremism are discussed in the subject “Life Safety” as
dangerous phenomena for society and the state5. To inform students and their parents about
preventive measures aimed at countering extremism, the School regularly publishes videos on its
4 School No. 9 of Kerch, Content of the school subject “Crimean Studies” for grades 5–9 (Annex 741).
5 School No. 9 of Kerch, Working curriculum on the subject “Life Safety” for the 10th and 11th grades, 2019 (Annex
709).
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website about the importance of being vigilant and the necessity to instil a sense of friendship and
tolerance in the younger generation in the realities of modern life6.
17. The importance of maintaining good neighbourly relations, respect, and mutual
understanding towards people of all ethnicities and religions is at the core of the upbringing of the
youth and children in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural environment of Crimea. While preventing
extremism among the youth, the School seeks only to strengthen the system of spiritual and moral
values and to promote among the rising generation a culture of inter-ethnic relations premised on
respect for the language, cultural heritage, and historical past of any people living on the peninsula.
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in the present
witness statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 21 April 2021
6 School No. 9 of Kerch official website, Video footage “Terrorism has no ethnicity”, available at
http://kerchschool9.ucoz.org/news/?page2.
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Witness Statement of
22 April 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, ,
of the State Budgetary Educational Institution
of Higher Education of the Republic of Crimea “Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and
Pedagogical University” (Simferopol, Republic of Crimea, Russia; hereinafter referred to as the
“University” or the “CEPU”) since . Before my appointment , namely since
, after defending my thesis for a degree of Doctor of Psychological
Sciences,
.
2. In this witness statement, I am asked to provide details about training programmes for
primary school and preschool teachers implemented at the CEPU both before and after 2014.
Considering my long-term experience of working at the Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical
Education and , I have relevant information
and data about training programmes for primary school and preschool teachers implemented at two
departments of the Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical Education: the Department of Primary
Education and the Department of Preschool Education and Pedagogics. I also comment on the
opportunities for carrying out pedagogical activities in the state languages of the Republic of Crimea
(Crimean Tatar, Ukrainian and Russian) that graduates of the Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical
Education have upon completion of their studies.
3. The Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical Education has operated since 1994: it was
originally opened as the Faculty of Preschool and Primary Pedagogics, then reorganised into a
pedagogical faculty after two years due to the expansion of educational activities, became a
Psychological and Pedagogical Faculty in 2005 and since 2015 – the Faculty of Psychology and
Pedagogical Education. Now specialists are trained at seven departments that produce dozens of
professionals every year: preschool, primary school and handicraft teachers, special education
teachers, speech and language therapists, and psychologists. Our graduates work in Crimean schools,
kindergartens, administrative authorities of cities and districts, social service centres, career guidance
centres, and family and children support services. The Faculty has built a positive image in Crimea,
and schools of Simferopol and other regions of the peninsula, the Artek International Children’s
Centre, and many other organisations are seeking to cooperate with us on a long-term basis.
Translation
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4. The core mission of the Department of Primary Education is training of primary school
teachers. Russian has always been the language of instruction at our University. However, given the
contingent of students and special educational aspects in certain Crimean schools, the University has
also provided an environment and opportunities for training specialists who can teach students in
classes with Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar as the languages of instruction.
5. Today the Department of Primary Education trains primary school teachers under a
bachelor’s programme: training programme “44.03.01 Pedagogical Education (Specialisation:
Primary Education)”, and a master’s programme: training programme “44.04.01 Pedagogical
Education (Specialisation: Primary Education)”.
6. After the University shifted to Russian educational standards, specialisations of the main
professional educational programme of higher education have been retained. These specialisations
allow future teachers to teach in Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar. These used to be separate
specialisations and now they are called “sets of elective disciplines”. When Crimea was part of
Ukraine as well as today, third-year students of the University have an opportunity to choose a set of
disciplines on Ukrainian or Crimean Tatar, with these disciplines then recorded in their diplomas.
Upon completion of their studies, our students obtain the qualification of primary school teachers
with a right to teach students in classes with Ukrainian or Crimean Tatar as the languages of
instruction as well as the right to teach Ukrainian or Crimean Tatar as elective courses.
7. I attach to this witness statement a table with information on the number of students who
have chosen sets of disciplines on the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages1. For example, today
out of 27 students of full-time third-year students under a bachelor’s programme at the Department
of Primary Education (group “PE-2-19”), 11 students study the Ukrainian set of disciplines and 16
students – the Crimean Tatar one.
8. According to the main professional educational bachelor’s programme in the training
programme “Pedagogical Education (Specialisation: Primary Education)”, the Ukrainian set of
disciplines consists of the following academic disciplines: “Methodology for Teaching Ukrainian in
Primary School”, “Methodology for Teaching a Communication Course in Ukrainian”, “Speech
Development Methodology (Ukrainian)”, “Educational Translation Methodology (Ukrainian,
Russian)”; “Methodology for Teaching Ukrainian Literature in Grades 1–4”; “Literary Analysis of
Texts of Children’s Ukrainian Literature”2.
1 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Information on students studying at the Faculty of
Psychology and Pedagogical Education (Annex 735).
2 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Main professional educational programme of higher
education for training programme “44.03.01 Pedagogical Education (Specialisation: Primary Education)”, 2020 (Annex
720).
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3
9. The master’s programme includes the discipline “Theory and Teaching Methodology in
Higher and Specialised Educational Institutions “Methodology for Teaching Ukrainian” that serves
to develop skills in teaching Ukrainian in primary school, secondary school, and higher educational
institutions.
10. A set of Crimean Tatar disciplines consists of similar disciplines: “Methodology for
Teaching a Communication Course in Crimean Tatar”, “Speech Development Methodology
(Crimean Tatar)”, “Educational Translation Methodology (Crimean Tatar, Russian)”; “Methodology
for Teaching Crimean Tatar Literature in Grades 1–4”; “Literary Analysis of Texts of Children’s
Crimean Tatar Literature”3.
11. Therefore, the CEPU’s training programme for primary school teachers, which aims at
allowing students to master various forms and methods of educational work, offers an opportunity to
fulfil one’s cultural needs both as part of curricular and extracurricular activities. After graduation, a
great number of graduates of the Department of Primary Education succeed in getting employed at
general educational institutions of Crimea, and the skills in teaching in Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar
they have mastered and the right to teach these languages give them a significant edge.
12. These days the Department of Preschool Education and Pedagogics trains specialists in
two fields of study: bachelor’s programme “44.03.01 Pedagogical Education (Specialisation:
Preschool Education)” and master’s programme “44.04.01 Pedagogical Education (Specialisation:
Preschool Education)”. Master’s students are trained under two programmes: “Preschool Education
Management” and “Methodological Support in Preschool Education”. It is worth noting that the
CEPU also implemented these programmes for training preschool teachers when Crimea was part of
Ukraine.
13. Curricula of the specialisation “Preschool Education” still have sets of disciplines
allowing future teachers to teach in bilingual groups at children’s preschool institutions and also to
teach elective courses on the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages. Apart from the mandatory
study of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar4, our students can choose a set of elective disciplines that are
basic in terms of addressing pedagogical and methodological issues of the upbringing, development,
and education of preschool children in a multi-cultural environment of Crimea. These disciplines
include “Children’s Crimean Tatar Literature and Folklore with a Practical Course on Expressive
Reading” [Original in Crimean Tatar and Russian], “Theory and Methodology of Teaching Crimean
Tatar to Preschool Children” [Original in Crimean Tatar and Russian]5.
3 Ibid.
4 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Main professional educational programme of higher
education for training programme “44.03.01 Pedagogical Education (Specialisation: Preschool Education)”, 2020 (Annex
721).
5 Ibid.
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14. The attached table6 shows the number of third-year students of the Faculty of Psychology
and Pedagogical Education who study sets of disciplines on Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar. For
instance, out of 21 full-time students under the training programme “44.03.01 Pedagogical Education
(Specialisation: Preschool Education)” (group “PsE-18”), seven students have now opted for a set of
disciplines on Crimean Tatar. For comparison, out of 23 students under the training programme
“44.03.03 Special (Defectology) Education (Specialisation: Oligophrenopedagogics)” (group “SDE-
18”), five students have opted for a set of disciplines on Ukrainian and eight – for that on Crimean
Tatar. As it follows from the enclosed table, the remaining students of these groups have chosen
elective disciplines either on the Russian language or visual art.
15. Besides, as disciplines of the mandatory part of the curriculum of the main professional
educational bachelor’s programme, students of the Department of Preschool Education and
Pedagogics study such academic disciplines as “Introducing Preschool Children to the Culture of
Peoples of Crimea”, “Decorative and Applied Art of Peoples of Crimea for Preschool Children with
a Practical Course”, “Action-Oriented Games of Peoples of Crimea for Preschool Children with a
Practical Course”. In mastering these disciplines, future preschool teachers and pedagogues acquire
skills in carrying out their professional activities in a multicultural educational environment and
familiarise themselves with features of ethnic cultures of various peoples of Crimea so they can build
their educational and training process with due regard taken of basic ethnic values. Taking into
account that Crimea has historically had a multi-ethnic community of peoples, and, consequently, the
contingent of students in preschool institutions is comprised of children of different ethnicities, it is
utterly important that specialists working with preschool children should be able to take into
consideration ethno-cultural and denominational differences that students have and to prepare
programmes in order to support and assist students of different ethnicities.
16. I can safely say that, after Crimea became part of Russia, the Crimean Tatar field of study
has become even higher in demand. Recent years have seen the opening of kindergartens and child
development centres across Crimea with linguistic groups formed at the parents’ request, including
those with Crimean Tatar7. I personally know several preschool institutions of Simferopol that have
bilingual groups, for instance “General Development Kindergarten No. 7 ‘Zhemchuzhinka’”, Child
Development Centre “Fidanchyk”. Our students annually undergo internships in kindergartens,
including bilingual or ethnic groups.
6 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Information on students studying at the Faculty of
Psychology and Pedagogical Education (Annex 735).
7 Kindergarten No. 7 “Zhemchuzhinka” of Simferopol official website, “Opening of a Crimean Tatar group”, 6 November
2015 (Annex 1051).
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5
17. Every year the CEPU holds the research and practical seminar “Current Trends in the
Speech Development in Preschool Children through Crimean Tatar Folklore”8 intended for
pedagogues and preschool teachers of Crimean Tatar ethnic groups in kindergartens. At this seminar,
participants deliver lectures and hold workshops, while children from kindergartens and early
development centres stage performances in Crimean Tatar.
18. In the multicultural environment of Crimea, it is essential to maintain a common cultural
space and strengthen friendly inter-ethnic relations. To achieve this, our students study such
disciplines as “Methodology for Teaching the Fundamentals of Religious Cultures and Secular
Ethics” as part of the main professional educational programme. The main objective of such
programmes is to equip future teachers with skills in introducing primary school and preschool
children to the fundamentals of Orthodox, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hebrew religious cultures,
developing in schoolchildren and preschool children a capacity for communication in a multi-ethnic
and multi-confessional environment governed by the values of mutual respect and dialogue. In my
opinion, such disciplines undoubtedly form an integral part of the educational programme, especially
given that Crimea is historically treated as a multi-ethnic region. Pedagogues and teachers should
know, understand, and take into account that the concept of cultural diversity directly influences the
entire educational process, thereby having an impact on the development of pupils’ personality.
I hereby certify that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 22 April 2021
8 Crimean Tatars Club website, “Seminar for teachers of Crimean Tatar ethnic groups”, 1 March 2017 (Annex 1067).
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Annex 8
Witness Statement of
22 April 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
I, , born in ,
of the State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education of
the Republic of Crimea “Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University”
(Simferopol, Republic of Crimea, Russia; hereinafter referred to as the “Crimean Engineering and
Pedagogical University”, the “CEPU”, or the “University”), hereby declare as follows.
I. Introduction
1. In this witness statement, I will provide information on the functioning of the Crimean
Engineering and Pedagogical University both when Crimea was part of Ukraine and after Crimea’s
reunification with Russia, including various specialist training programmes and opportunities for
obtaining higher education, identifying and developing students’ creative skills in a multicultural
environment of Crimea.
2. I was born and raised in Tashkent (Republic of Uzbekistan) and graduated from the
.
.
Translation
Annex 8
1
2
.
5. By virtue of my position and with many years of experience in the research and
educational area, and considering my close involvement in public activities on the peninsula over the
last years, including the representation and protection of Crimean Tatars’ rights, I possess reliable
information about the present situation and changes that happened in the higher education system and
the social sphere of public life in Crimea.
II. Foundation of the CEPU
6. The Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University (formerly – the Crimean State
Industrial and Pedagogical Institute) was created in 1993 in response to the needs of peoples returning
after the deportation. At various approval stages, the idea of creation of an independent institute
was supported by G.A. Yagodin, chairman of the State Committee for National Education of the
USSR, and B.E. Paton, president of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. N.V. Bagrov,
chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea, L.R. Bezaziev, who was responsible for the deported
peoples’ affairs at that time, and V.P. Romanenko, Minister of Education of Crimea, deemed it was
feasible to open such an institute. As a result, the Council of Ministers of Crimea adopted Resolution
of 15 June 1993 No. 120 “On the creation of the Crimean State Industrial and Pedagogical
Institute”1. On 21 July 1993, the Minister of Education of Crimea ordered to appoint Fevzi
Yakubovich Yakubov – Doctor of Technical Sciences, professor, and honoured scientist of
Uzbekistan – as Rector of the new institute.
7. The first state order for the admission of 325 students (full-time and part-time forms
of study) came on 9 April 1994 for them to be enrolled at the following specialties: “Pedagogics and
Psychology of Preschool Education”; “Pedagogics and Methodology of Primary Education”;
“Crimean Tatar Language and Literature”; “Handicraft”; “Accounting and Audit”. In 1997, the first
specialists with secondary special education and three (and more) years of pedagogical experience
graduated from the institute under shortened programmes. In 1999, specialists graduated from the
institute under full programmes.
8. In 2003, the Crimean State Industrial and Pedagogical Institute was reorganised into
the Crimean State Engineering and Pedagogical University under Resolution of 14 January 2003
No. 10 of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and in 2005, in order to
implement Resolution of 12 April 2005 No. 162 of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea “On changing the names of educational institutions of the Ministry of Education
1 Ukraine, Council of Ministers of Crimea, Resolution “On the creation of the Crimean State Industrial and Pedagogical
Institute” No. 120, 15 June 1993 (Annex 768).
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3
and Science of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea”, the institution became the Republican Higher
Educational Institution “Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University”.
9. Humanities research of the CEPU gained high-profile public recognition, which was
certainly evidenced by the creation of the Research Centre of the Crimean Tatar Language, Literature,
History, and Artistic Culture at the University in May 2004 in accordance with Resolution of
28 October 2003 No. 577 of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
10. Separately, it should be emphasised that originally the University did not have its own
building. At first, the University was temporarily housed in the premises of schools, vocational
technical schools No. 25, 26, 4, the Crimean Automobile Training Plant, laboratories of the Crimean
Institute of Environmental and Resort Construction, the Frunze Simferopol State University, and the
Georgievsky Crimean State Medical University2. Later buildings of the Simferopol Higher Military
and Political Construction School, with facilities being in a deplorable state, were transferred to the
University. When teachers and students of the CEPU found themselves in those decrepit and forsaken
buildings, they saw fallen plaster, buckled parquet floors, and piles of debris. Students and staff of
the Faculty of Engineering collected and removed about 35 trucks of waste. At first there was no
lighting or heating. Those were the hardest times.
11. Besides, when Crimea was part of Ukraine, the CEPU received little support from the
government. The funds allocated from the budget were insufficient for the University’s facilities,
repair works or the purchase of new equipment. The University lecturers and staff reconstructed
classrooms, did repairs, and brought furniture into the premises on their own. The University was
created step-by-step owing to the efforts of the staff rallied by enthusiasm and desire. The first years
of the CEPU were marked by extensive work on the organisation of the educational and training
process and the preparation of teaching and methodological material.
III. Contribution to the development of the University made by its founder and first
Rector Fevzi Yakubovich Yakubov
12. It is difficult to overestimate the contribution of Professor Fevzi Yakubovich Yakubov
to the development of the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University. His name is associated
with an entire era when Crimean Tatars were returning to their ancestral homeland – Crimea. Fevzi
Yakubovich was a mastermind behind the creation of the University and its founder and permanent
Rector for 23 years. More than 70 training programmes were developed on his watch. Over the years
of the first Rector’s tenure, the CEPU trained more than 25 thousand high-qualified specialists to be
employed in the educational and economic spheres of Crimea and more than 200 theses for degrees
of doctor and candidate of sciences were defended.
2 The names of the educational institutions are relevant as at the specified period, namely 1993–1994.
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4
13. Headed by Fevzi Yakubovich, the University became the centre for the revival of the
Crimean Tatar culture and promoted a tolerant, impartial, and well-meaning approach to studying the
cultural heritage of all peoples living on the peninsula.
14. Several years after the University was opened, Fevzi Yakubovich initiated and put into
practice an idea of dual philological specialties: Crimean Tatar – Russian, Crimean Tatar – English,
English – Russian, English – German, English – Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar – Ukrainian. This
landmark decision made philological training programmes popular, and the CEPU gained a
considerable advantage over other higher educational institutions in Crimea. Dual specialties continue
to be implemented at the University to date.
15. Further, Fevzi Yakubovich introduced the mandatory study of Russian, Ukrainian, and
Crimean Tatar in all training programmes of all specialties at the University. After Crimea reunited
with Russia, in 2015, the Academic and Methodological Council of the CEPU resolved to include all
the three languages, which were recognised as state languages of the Republic of Crimea, into a list
of compulsory disciplines3. The idea to introduce the mandatory study of Russian, Ukrainian, and
Crimean Tatar came to Fevzi Yakubovich after all the three languages were enshrined in legislation
as state languages in the territory of Crimea. The management and teaching staff of the University
understood the importance of that pivotal decision, believing it to be a crucial step towards the
fulfilment of interests of the main ethnic groups living in the republic, and unanimously supported a
proposal to introduce the mandatory study of all three state languages of the Republic of Crimea.
16. These and many other initiatives of Fevzi Yakubovich concerning the creation of a
university of friendship, creativity, and dialogue were successfully implemented and continued by his
liked-minded colleagues. The CEPU was established with a view to reviving the language and culture
of the Crimean Tatar people, harmonising integration processes in a multi-ethnic Crimean society,
nurturing a mind-set in the young people grounded in knowledge that it is necessary to strengthen
inter-ethnic harmony on the peninsula. To this day, the CEPU has set great store by the ideas of
constructive dialogue among cultures, a friendly and tolerant attitude to representatives of all peoples
and denominations. In 2016, Fevzi Yakubovich resigned as Rector and became President of the
CEPU. In 2019, the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University was honourably named after
Fevzi Yakubov.
IV. Operation and development of the CEPU today
17. Today the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University is a modern higher
educational institution that continues to make an enormous contribution to the staffing and cultural
support in the Crimean region. Approximately 5,000 students are currently studying under more than
3 Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Excerpt from Protocol No. 9 of the meeting of the Academic and
Methodological Council, 19 May 2015 (Annex 671).
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5
120 training programmes at five faculties of the CEPU. 29 departments have more than 258 highlyqualified
research and pedagogical employees, including 21 doctors of sciences, 139 candidates of
sciences, 13 professors, and 107 associate professors. The University annually trains bachelors,
specialists, masters, and post-graduate students who succeed in obtaining employment and occupying
leading positions in all areas of the economy, education, and culture both in and outside Crimea.
18. The Faculty of Psychology and Pedagogical Education, the Faculty of Philology, the
Faculty of History, Arts, and the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature train specialists in various
fields and specialisations relating to education, linguistics, philology, journalism, history, art of
singing, orchestra conducting, decorative and applied arts, and musical and instrumental art. All these
fields seem to be so different but they are all united by a common idea and a shared objective – to
study the languages, history, culture and creativity of peoples living in Crimea. The CEPU continues
training Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar teachers, as well as primary and preschool teachers and
educators who, after graduation, go on to teach the state languages of the Republic of Crimea in
Crimean schools and bilingual groups of preschool institutions.
19. The Faculty of Engineering and Technology and the Faculty of Economics,
Management and Information Technology train engineering and pedagogical staff, specialists in
accounting, analysis, audit, management, finance, global economy, and information technology who
apply their knowledge and skills across Crimea and far beyond. Our graduates are heads and
employees of numerous industrial enterprises of Crimea, educational institutions, ministries, and state
agencies.
20. Moreover, the CEPU incorporates two branches: the Kerch branch of the State
Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education of the Republic of Crimea “Fevzi Yakubov
Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University” and the Engineering and Pedagogical College in
the Bakhchisaray District. Both branches also train specialists under primary and preschool training
programmes.
21. The Research Centre of the Crimean Tatar Language, Literature, History, and Artistic
Culture established at the CEPU in 2004 was subsequently reorganised into the Research Institute of
Crimean Tatar Philology, History, and Culture of Ethnic Groups of Crimea (hereinafter referred to as
the “Research Institute”). The Research Institute was opened for the purposes of conducting research
in philology, history and culture of Crimean Tatars and other ethnic groups of Crimea. Now the
Research Institute addresses both theoretical and practical matters. Research findings in the area of
Crimean Tatar philology, history, and culture are used in compiling study guides, textbooks, and
instructional guidelines for schools and higher educational institutions of Crimea. Employees of the
Research Institute have also authored, peer-reviewed, translated and edited a great many textbooks
and study guides for schools and higher educational institutions, thereby contributing to the planned
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6
development and the improvement of the quality of the educational process in Crimean Tatar in
Crimea.
22. The CEPU publishes periodic printed publications featuring academic papers of
doctors of sciences, candidates of sciences, post-graduate students, applicants, and students in various
areas and spheres of science4. Articles published in numerous journals are included in the database
of the Russian Science Citation Index. Publications are released in Russian, English, Ukrainian, and
Crimean Tatar.
23. The teaching staff and students of the CEPU are actively involved in research
activities, research and practical conferences, including international ones5. Students can pursue
opportunities to increase their intellectual potential and develop their artistic skills and interest in one
of the state languages of Crimea6 by taking part in various forums, conferences, symposia, workshops,
roundtables, traineeship, academic visits, contests, festivals, and exhibitions where they can exchange
experience and display the results of their research and pedagogical achievements. For instance, every
year the Department of the Ukrainian Language organises conferences, literature readings, and
roundtables dedicated to the works of Ukrainian writers and poets, including the research and
practical conference “Taras Shevchenko and the Present” and a research and practical conference
devoted to the works of Ukrainian poet and writer Lesya Ukrainka. Employees and students of the
Department of Crimean Tatar and Turkish Linguistics and the Department of Crimean Tatar
Literature and Journalism annually participate in the All-Russian research conference “Philology,
History and Culture of Crimean Tatars: Traditions and Modernity”.
V. The CEPU as centre for mass cultural and educational activities
24. The CEPU takes vigorous efforts to organise and hold cultural, sports, civil and
patriotic events. Additionally, there are annual memorable events dedicated to historical events and
figures of Crimean Tatar descent, as well as national and religious holidays. Examples include events
devoted to the birthday of Ismail Gasprinsky, a Crimean Tatar public and political figure and
educator7, events dedicated to the anniversary of the tragic death of Noman Çelebicihan, the first
mufti of Muslims of Crimea,8 events associated with the anniversary of the birthday of Amet-Khan
4 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “Printed publications of the Crimean
Engineering and Pedagogical University”, 16 October 2017 (Annex 1075).
5 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “CEPU at the Second International
Festival of Youth and Students”, 17 April 2019 (Annex 1106).
6 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “CEPU hosted the Third Student
Forum of the state languages of the Republic of Crimea”, 4 December 2018 (Annex 1093).
7 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “Students of the CEPU took part in
events held on the occasion of the birthday of Ismail Gasprinsky”, 22 March 2018 (Annex 1085); Fevzi Yakubov Crimean
Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “Commemorative events held to celebrate the 170th anniversary
of the birth of Ismail Gasprinsky”, 20 March 2021 (Annex 1161).
8 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “In memory of Noman Çelebicihan”,
26 February 2019 (Annex 1102).
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Sultan, a test pilot and twice the Hero of the Soviet Union9, an event in memory of Refat Ibaldaev, a
prominent accordionist, composer and pedagogue10, events dedicated to the 140th anniversary of
Asan Chergeev, a classic of Crimean Tatar literature11, and many other memorable and festive events
that serve not only to commemorate people of culture and art and historical figures but also to remind
one of their contribution to, and achievements in, the development of education and culture of the
Turkic world.
25. The CEPU pays increased attention to the Memorial Day for the victims of the
deportation of the peoples of Crimea. Every year on 18 May, teachers and students of the CEPU take
part in commemorative events and lay flowers at the monument “Revival of the Crimean Tatar
People” situated in the University’s territory and participate in a mourning rally and a requiem concert
held near the Syuren Station in the Bakhchisaray District12.
26. Further, various artistic groups, choreographic and vocal ensembles of the CEPU are
keenly involved in events related to Crimean Tatar national holidays. Our students and other
representatives of the Crimean Tatar young generation annually present a concert programme for
such holidays as Hidirlez13, Derviza14, and festive events devoted to the Day of the Crimean Tatar
Flag15.
27. Moreover, the CEPU has at all times supported and welcomed cultural and educational
activities intended to promote the creativity, culture, and traditions of other ethnicities living in
Crimea. For instance, the Department of Ukrainian Philology has a Museum of Ukrainian Ethnic
Studies that features exhibits of Ukrainian everyday items, tableware, traditional costumes, and works
of art. In my opinion, such manifestations of ethnic identity are vital and necessary elements of the
educational process, especially in a multicultural Crimean environment.
VI. The CEPU after Crimea’s reunification with Russia
28. After Crimea became part of Russia, Crimean educational institutions have started
receiving considerable support from the government: 90% of our University’s facilities and resources
9 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “Alley in the memory of Amet-Khan
Sultan, twice the Hero of the Soviet Union”, 26 October 2020 (Annex 1140).
10 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “Works of Refat Ibaldaev in the
context of Crimean Tatar music culture”, 11 April 2019 (Annex 1105).
11 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “140th anniversary of the birth of
A. Chergeev, a classic of Crimean Tatar literature”, 10 April 2019 (Annex 1104).
12 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “CEPU honours the memory of the
victims of the deportation”, 22 May 2017 (Annex 1070).
13 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “Hidirlez - all-Crimean spring
holiday!”, 10 May 2017 (Annex 1069).
14 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “Celebration of national Crimean
Tatar holiday Derviza!”, 23 September 2020 (Annex 1130).
15 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “CEPU hosted a festive event
dedicated to the Day of the Crimean Tatar Flag”, 29 June 2018 (Annex 1089).
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has been renovated, we have purchased new equipment and performed major repairs on the
Engineering and Pedagogical College in the Bakhchisaray District. Grants, scholarship allowances,
and bonuses are now provided, and youth projects are gaining extensive support16. Over the last few
years, we have won ten grant-awarding All-Russian contests of youth projects (a contest of the
Federal Agency for Youth Affairs) among higher educational institutions in various categories17. It
never happened in the pre-Russian period of Crimea. Grant research is rapidly developing. We are
only exploring this area, but some of our projects have already won grants of Russian research funds.
29. A Youth Centre of Multi-Ethnic Culture is being constructed at the CEPU as part of
the federal target programme “Social and economic development of the Republic of Crimea and
Sevastopol until 2022”. The Centre will house a dormitory for 750 students, a library, a book
depository, a sports centre, and halls for conferences, exhibitions, symposia, meetings, sporting
competitions, and festivals. It was a long-held dream of our first Rector to construct a multi-ethnic
centre, but before Crimea moved to Russian jurisdiction we could only dream about it. When Crimea
was part of Ukraine, Fevzi Yakubovich repeatedly appealed to republican government authorities,
charitable and civic organisations and renowned patrons requesting them to provide funds for the
construction of such a centre. No particular action was taken despite promises that were made. In
2016, after Crimea acceded to Russia, it was resolved with the support of S.V. Aksyonov to include
the construction of a multi-ethnic centre into federal target programmes. Today the second stage of
construction is already underway.
30. We would certainly like to have broader opportunities in order to expand our
international connections and international cooperation so that the academic staff and students of our
University could freely take part in international programmes, projects, and grants organised by
foreign research and educational funds and organisations. Unfortunately, the sanctions policy pursued
by western countries takes a heavy toll on the educational sphere as well which, in my view, is
unacceptable because it primarily violates the rights of our students. It is puzzling why the youth and
science are taken hostage by politicians despite the fact that we are absolutely open and ready to
cooperate. Although, in spite of all our efforts, we have to admit that international cooperation has
been on the decline over the recent years: many international internships and student exchange
programmes have been stopped, and the number of conferences and other forums in Crimea,
involving scholars from all over the world, has been reduced. This situation is compounded by the
fact that a number of countries refuse to recognise documents issued in Crimea and deny visas to
16 In 2018, the Department of Fashion Technology, Design and Professional Pedagogics won in an All-Russian contest
of youth projects of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs in the category of “Support of Youth Student Initiatives”,
consequently obtaining a grant for manufacturing a fashion line, see Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and
Pedagogical University official website, “The presentation of the new clothing collection of the student lab ‘Selyam’ was
held in the CEPU”, 28 December 2018 (Annex 1094).
17 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “Alley in the memory of Amet-
Khan Sultan, twice the Hero of the Soviet Union”, 26 October 2020 (Annex 1140).
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Crimeans applying to embassies and diplomatic missions in Russia. I believe that the sanctions regime
against the Crimean population violates the guaranteed human rights and freedoms.
VII. Participation in public activity
31. After Crimea reunited with Russia, assistance to rehabilitated peoples has become one
of the key areas of national domestic policy. The Russian Federation has taken a range of measures
relating to the settlement of, and social support to representatives of the rehabilitated peoples of
Crimea. In 2018, the Council of Crimean Tatars was created under the Head of the Republic of Crimea
composed of members being representatives of clergy, culture, education, sports and medicine elected
by the Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea. I was appointed deputy chairman of the Council of Crimean
Tatars. One of the Council’s objectives was to define a set of measures ensuring an effective
implementation of Decree of 21 April 2014 No. 268 of the President of the Russian Federation “On
measures aimed at rehabilitation of Armenian, Bulgarian, Greek, Italian, Crimean Tatar and German
peoples and state support of their revival and development” in terms of restoring historical justice and
ensuring political, social, and spiritual revival of Crimean Tatars who were illegally deported and
faced political repressions because of their ethnicity. Today, as part of its functions, the Council
identifies and analyses Crimean Tatars’ problems in the Republic of Crimea, offers consultations to
citizens on various pressing issues, including citizenship, land plots, social support measures, assists
in interaction with representatives of republican authorities.
32. In 2020, the Council for Inter-ethnic Relations under the
President of the Russian Federation. This advisory and consultative body was formed for the purposes
of improving state policy relating to inter-ethnic relations. The Council has constant commissions
and groups whose work results in proposals on how to determine top-priority areas of state national
policy. There are meetings and sessions, involving the President of the Russian Federation, at which
critical matters are discussed, namely the preservation and development of cultural and language
diversity of peoples of Russia, education, improvements in legislation and law enforcement, and the
resolving conflict situations in the field of inter-ethnic relations. As a result of such meetings the
relevant instructions of the President of the Russian Federation are prepared, and the above proposals
then find their way into laws and legal acts.
33. It is certainly an honour
.
Council’s meetings which was dedicated, among other things, to such matters as the creation and
promotion of ethno-cultural tourism projects, the role of education in the harmonisation of interethnic
relations and the importance of non-discrimination based on social, ethnic, language, or
religious affiliation when conducting the All-Russian population census. One specifically discussed
the development of a concept of state language policy and a draft law “On amending the law ‘On the
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languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation’” reviewed by the State Duma of the Federal
Assembly of the Russian Federation, which is intended to create necessary conditions in order to
further preserve and develop national languages and to create a new generation of textbooks on native
languages. It is apparent that I cannot help but support such initiatives as a representative of the
Crimean Tatar people and head of an educational institution in which Crimean Tatar, Russian,
Ukrainian and other languages are taught.
VIII. Conclusion
34. Today the Crimean Tatar people feel like part of a large family of peoples of Russia.
Over the recent years, there has been an increase in the number of families provided with their own
residential property and in that of land plots allocated for land construction. The infrastructure is
gradually renovated, and areas of compact settlement of Crimean Tatars are improved in terms of gas,
water, and electric supply. A Crimean Tatar school – whose construction began back in 1993 but was
frozen for more than 20 years – was finally opened in the Fontany neighbourhood in Simferopol in
2016. The school was named after Alime Abdenanova, a Crimean, the Hero of Russia of Crimean
Tatar origin. A memorial to Amet-Khan Sultan, a distinguished Crimean Tatar pilot and twice the
Hero of the Soviet Union, was solemnly opened in Simferopol in 2020. The construction of a
cathedral mosque, which is destined to become the main cultural site of Crimean Muslims, is expected
to be completed in Simferopol in the nearest time.
35. New hospitals, schools, and kindergartens are being built and cultural heritage sites
are being restored across Crimea. A multipurpose medical centre named after Semashko was opened
in Simferopol. The Taurida highway, which was recently put into operation, is the main artery and
one of the most critical infrastructural assets of the peninsula alongside with a new terminal of the
Simferopol Airport and a bridge over the Kerch Strait.
36. Crimean Tatars also receive support in spiritual and religious life. With the backing
from the republican authorities, Muslims make annual pilgrimages to the Mecca; the major Muslim
holidays – Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha – are declared to be non-working public holidays, with other
national and traditional holidays openly celebrated far and wide.
37. Crimean Tatars, as well as the vast majority of Crimeans, have successfully integrated
into a multi-ethnic Russian society and became its full-fledged members. I would like to note
specifically that Crimea is the homeland to numerous peoples, meaning that a tolerant and wellmeaning
attitude towards representatives of other ethnicities is an overriding priority for Crimeans.
After its reunification with Russia, Crimea is gradually returning to its natural state of ethno-cultural
and denominational diversity and equality. It is for this very reason that the recognition of Crimean
Tatar, Russian, and Ukrainian as state languages of the Republic, the perpetuation of the memory of
Crimeans – Heroes of the Soviet Union, the veneration and public recognition of Crimean academic,
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cultural, literary, and sports figures – are important steps in the development of a multicultural
environment and an atmosphere of tolerance and inter-ethnic harmony in Crimea.
I hereby certify that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 22 April 2021
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Witness Statement of
22 April 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I,
a of the Department of Ukrainian Philology of the Faculty of Philology at the State
Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education of the Republic of Crimea “Fevzi Yakubov
Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University” (hereinafter – the “University” or the “CEPU”). I
Department of Ukrainian Philology since
.
2. In this witness statement, I am asked to cover matters relating to the training of Ukrainian
philologists at the CEPU both when Crimea was part of Ukraine and after Crimea’s accession to the
Russian Federation and to comment on the opportunities that the CEPU’s students have to study the
cultural heritage of their native land, to familiarise themselves with its history and culture, to contact
with the life and traditions of the Ukrainian people.
3. The Department of Ukrainian Philology used to operate within a single Department of
General Philology since the University was opened. In 2000, the Department of Ukrainian Philology
separated to become an individual department within the Faculty of Philology.
4. A unique feature of our University that differs it from other Crimean higher educational
institutions is that it provides an opportunity to study philological disciplines in double specialties.
For instance, students enrolled at the training programme “The English Language and Literature, the
Ukrainian Language and Literature” or “The English Language and Literature, the Crimean Tatar
Language and Literature” ultimately study two specialties since the very beginning. The main
advantage is undoubtedly that after completing their studies our graduates become entitled to teach
one of the two – or simultaneously two – languages specified in their diplomas. Educational
programmes with double specialties were introduced back to when Fevzi Yakubovich Yakubov was
the first rector of the CEPU, however, we have continued to provide training in double specialties to
this day.
5. Before 2014, there were certainly more of such specialties at our department. The Ukrainian
language was studied in pair with the English, Russian, and Crimean Tatar languages. Besides, there
were several groups studying one linguistic pair, for instance, the Departments Ukrainian and
English Philology had groups with such training programmes as “The Ukrainian Language and
Literature, the English Language and Literature” and “The English Language and Literature, the
Translation
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focus on future employment opportunities and, in principle, understand that for objective reasons
demand for Ukrainian has considerably fallen both in the educational sphere and other areas. In
addition, our graduates in the specialty “The the Ukrainian
Language and Literature” more likely go on to w Ukrainian ones.
8. Now the Department of Ukrainian Philology prepares students for graduation in the training
programmes m )
department receive a bachelor’s degree in the training programme “Teaching
Philological Disciplines (The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language and
Literature)” and a degree of master philologist under the programme of “Anthropocentric Paradigm
S Philological Disciplines”. I attach to this
educational programmes of higher education
and curricula under relevant training programmes3.
9. Our department also functions as a university-wide department, meaning that our teachers
give lessons of the Ukrainian language to first-year students of absolutely all specialties and all
training programmes. After Crimea’s accession to the Russian Federation, on the initiative of first
rector Fevzi Yakubovich Yakubov, the CEPU’s Academic and Methodological Council resolved that
all the three state languages of the Republic of Crimea would be mandatory in bachelor’s programmes
for all specialties at the University4. Thus, as per curricula, absolutely all first-year students study the
discipline “State Languages of the Republic of Crimea” which is a basic discipline. Its study load is
108 hours. The Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar languages are studied as separate subjects
under this discipline. I attach copies of some non-philological programmes of higher education clearly
demonstrating that the compulsory educational programme under different training programmes
include the discipline “State Languages of the Republic of Crimea”5.
10. Around 10 students in each year course now study “Teaching Philological Disciplines
(The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language and Literature)” at our department.
During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, each group had about 15 people, and the number
of groups was significantly higher. As compared with the Ukrainian period, the number of students
in Ukrainian specialties has declined, but it has been a gradual process rather than an instantaneous
3 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Main professional educational programme of higher
education in the bachelor’s training programme “Teaching philological disciplines (The English Language and Literature,
the Ukrainian Language and Literature)”, 2020 (Annex 722); Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical
University, Curriculum for the master’s training programme “Anthropocentric paradigm of literary and linguistic space
and its role in teaching philological disciplines”, 2019 (Annex 710).
4 Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Excerpt from Protocol No. 9 of the meeting of the Academic and
Methodological Council, 19 May 2015 (Annex 671).
5 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Main professional educational programme of higher
education in the bachelor’s training programmes Economics (Specialisation “Accounting, Analysis and Audit”) and
Operation of transport and technological machines and complexes (Specialisation “Automobiles and Automotive
Industry”), 2020 (Annex 723).
2 /signed/
Ukrainian Language and Literature”. Given the variety of training programmes in that period, there
were more students studying at the department than now. However, it should be noted that we lived
in a different state then: Ukrainian was the only official language and was part of the mandatory
school curriculum in all Crimean schools. Further, graduates after finishing their studies at the
University often moved to Ukraine in search of better employment and career opportunities. I can
assume that it is mostly for these reasons that such specialties were in higher demand under Ukrainian
rule. At that time, the competition for admission to our department was three or four people per place,
and now we barely have enough students for state-financed places, which clearly indicates that
interest in this profession and the language in general has plummeted1.
6. After integrating into the new Russian educational environment, the Department of
Ukrainian Philology continued operating as before. In 2014, we did not close a single training
programme, and students of all specialties and training programmes continued studying and
graduating in specialties they enrolled at in 2013 and earlier. However, in the 2014/2015 academic
year, we managed to form only one group of the first year in the training programme “The English
Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language and Literature”. In addition, we had only a parttime
form of study that year, for which 15 places were provided. Nevertheless, the number of firstyear
students in groups studying the Crimean Tatar, Russian, and English languages did not change
and remained the same, i.e. 20–25 people per group. This indicates that there was no increase in
places in other philological specialties at the expense of a decrease in places in Ukrainian
specialisation programmes at our University either in 2014 or in the years that followed. Furthermore,
a full-time form of study under the training programme “The English Language and Literature, the
Ukrainian Language and Literature” was made available in the next academic year and has been
implemented to this day.
7. I would like to stress that all subsequent changes in the contingent of students mostly
concerned admissions of new first-year students for those specialties wherein Ukrainian was one of
the languages studied. As I have already mentioned, there was only one group in the training
programme “The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language and Literature”, while
other training programmes – such as “The Ukrainian Language and Literature, the Russian Language
and Literature”, “The Ukrainian Language and Literature, the Crimean Tatar Language and
Literature” – were never opened. From then on, we have admitted every year one group of first-year
students in the training programme “The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language
and Literature”. Although it is more difficult to do it from year to year since the number of people
wishing to learn Ukrainian is gradually decreasing2. In choosing a specialty, applicants primarily
1 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Information on students enrolled at some philological
specialties at the University between 2012 and 2020 (Annex 742).
2 Ibid.
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3 /signed/
focus on future employment opportunities and, in principle, understand that for objective reasons
demand for Ukrainian has considerably fallen both in the educational sphere and other areas. In
addition, our graduates in the specialty “The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian
Language and Literature” more likely go on to work as English teachers rather than Ukrainian ones.
8. Now the Department of Ukrainian Philology prepares students for graduation in the training
programmes 45.03.01 Philology (bachelor’s programme), 45.04.01 Philology (master’s programme).
Graduates of the department receive a bachelor’s degree in the training programme “Teaching
Philological Disciplines (The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language and
Literature)” and a degree of master philologist under the programme of “Anthropocentric Paradigm
of Literary and Linguistic Space and its Role in Teaching Philological Disciplines”. I attach to this
witness statement copies of the principal professional educational programmes of higher education
and curricula under relevant training programmes3.
9. Our department also functions as a university-wide department, meaning that our teachers
give lessons of the Ukrainian language to first-year students of absolutely all specialties and all
training programmes. After Crimea’s accession to the Russian Federation, on the initiative of first
rector Fevzi Yakubovich Yakubov, the CEPU’s Academic and Methodological Council resolved that
all the three state languages of the Republic of Crimea would be mandatory in bachelor’s programmes
for all specialties at the University4. Thus, as per curricula, absolutely all first-year students study the
discipline “State Languages of the Republic of Crimea” which is a basic discipline. Its study load is
108 hours. The Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar languages are studied as separate subjects
under this discipline. I attach copies of some non-philological programmes of higher education clearly
demonstrating that the compulsory educational programme under different training programmes
include the discipline “State Languages of the Republic of Crimea”5.
10. Around 10 students in each year course now study “Teaching Philological Disciplines
(The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language and Literature)” at our department.
During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, each group had about 15 people, and the number
of groups was significantly higher. As compared with the Ukrainian period, the number of students
in Ukrainian specialties has declined, but it has been a gradual process rather than an instantaneous
3 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Main professional educational programme of higher
education in the bachelor’s training programme “Teaching philological disciplines (The English Language and Literature,
the Ukrainian Language and Literature)”, 2020 (Annex 722); Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical
University, Curriculum for the master’s training programme “Anthropocentric paradigm of literary and linguistic space
and its role in teaching philological disciplines”, 2019 (Annex 710).
4 Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Excerpt from Protocol No. 9 of the meeting of the Academic and
Methodological Council, 19 May 2015 (Annex 671).
5 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Main professional educational programme of higher
education in the bachelor’s training programmes Economics (Specialisation “Accounting, Analysis and Audit”) and
Operation of transport and technological machines and complexes (Specialisation “Automobiles and Automotive
Industry”), 2020 (Annex 723).
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4 /signed/
one. As I have already explained, students of all courses, who enrolled at the CEPU before 2014 and
studied under various training programmes provided by the Department of Ukrainian Philology,
continued their studies and over time graduated in the same specialties they had enrolled at.
11. The department’s academic teaching staff used to be composed of approximately 25–27
teachers; for instance, of 26 teachers in the 2013/2014 academic year, 19 were staff members and
seven worked part-time. However, with the number of students decreased, the number of teachers
naturally decreased as well. Under Ukrainian rule, many Ukrainian studies teachers worked part-time,
meaning that they came from other universities and were not part of our University’s staff. Two
teachers moved to Ukraine, one went to work at school, and several people retired. In consequence,
we now have five full-time teachers and a part-time one.
12. Obviously we do see and understand that Ukrainian is becoming less and less in demand
year after year, and we are therefore attempting to preserve and promote the Ukrainian language. The
main field of research of the department’s academic teaching staff is the usage of Ukrainian as an
official language in the context of a multicultural environment in the Republic of Crimea. Thus, the
department each month holds research and methodological seminars whereat teachers and students
discuss their research findings, including matters relating to the preservation and promotion of the
Ukrainian language. Over the last ten years, our department has annually held the research and
practical conference “Taras Shevchenko and the Present” [Original in Russian and Ukrainian] in
cooperation with personnel of the Department of Ukrainian Philology of the Faculty of Slavic
Philology and Journalism of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University and Shevchenko Branch
Library No. 7. At this conference academicians make reports, students and schoolchildren recite
poetry of Taras Grigoryevich Shevchenko in Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar. Following the
conference, we usually publish a collection of materials reflecting the principal research directions in
the Ukrainian philology. I attach a copy of the programme of one of such conferences in Ukrainian
for 20206 and also articles and photographs of the latest conferences dedicated to the works of Taras
Grigoryevich Shevchenko7.
13. Moreover, in partnership with personnel of the Department of Ukrainian Philology of the
Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, our
department’s staff annually take part in the organisation of a research and practical conference
dedicated to the creative works of the talented Ukrainian poetess and writer Lesya Ukrainka8.
Additionally, in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Lesya Ukrainka, this year the Franko Crimean
6 Programme of the Research and Practical Conference “Taras Shevchenko and the Present”, 2020 (Annex 1115).
7 Simferopol Shevchenko Branch Library No. 7, VI-X Research and Practical Conferences “Taras Shevchenko and the
Present” (Annex 1053).
8 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Programme of ХІХ Research and Practical
Conference “The work of Lesya Ukrainka and other writers and artists of the modern era in the context of tendencies of
dramatization and theatricalization of the art process”, Simferopol, 24-25 September 2020 (Annex 728).
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5 /signed/
Republican Universal Research Library hosted a reading conference titled “Flower on a Palm of
Eternity” [Original in Ukrainian] in which teachers and students of our University also participated.
During the conference, students of the Faculty of Philology of the CEPU recited the works of Lesya
Ukrainka in Ukrainian, Russian and Crimean Tatar, while Crimean writers and poets recited their
own works. The conference’s guests had an opportunity to gain insight into the poetess’ biography
and artistic career by watching the video presentation “Life and Works of Lesya Ukrainka” and
attending the book and illustrative exhibition “Lesya Ukrainka. Crimean Memoirs”9.
14. As part of the educational programme first-year students of our department take folklore
and dialectological practice that allows them to gain an understanding of traditional variations of
Ukrainian in the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. To obtain dialectal material, students visit
different regions of Crimea, communicate with local inhabitants, representatives of the Ukrainian
people, keep diaries, collect material – folklore of the region’s native people – following which they
write papers and prepare reports.
15. Scientific and research activities carried out at the Department of Ukrainian Philology,
include the annual publication of a collection of students’ papers titled “Installations: Practical
Philology” [Original in Russian and Ukrainian] with both academic papers and works of art in the
Ukrainian language of students and pupils of general educational institutions. I attach a copy of one
of such collections for 201710.
16. After Crimea reunited with Russia, Crimea hosted a regional tour of the All-Russian
academic competition on the official languages of the republics of the Russian Federation among
schoolchildren and students. Besides, our University annually holds an academic competition on the
Ukrainian language and literature among students of philological and non-philological specialties.
Students of the Department of Ukrainian Philology of the CEPU take top places every year11.
17. Additionally, the Department of Ukrainian Philology has a Museum of Ukrainian ethnic
studies12 created by the CEPU’s academic and teaching staff and students. The museum’s collection
has been gradually enriched over many years. Teachers, students, and guests of the University collect
and donate to the museum various Ukrainian everyday items, tableware, traditional costumes,
rushnyks [ritual cloth] and shirts embroidered with different embroidery ornaments of South and East
Slavs. The museum’s display also includes extremely valuable ones made by Vera Roik, a prominent
9 Franko Crimean Republican Universal Research Library, Reading Conference “Flower on a palm of eternity”, 24
February 2021 (Annex 1156).
10 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, “Collection of students’ scientific papers
‘Installations: practical philology’”, 2017 (Annex 1065).
11 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Results of the regional round of the Ukrainian
language academic competition in the Republic of Crimea, 27 October 2016 (Annex 1060).
12 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Photographs of the display of the Museum of
Ukrainian ethnic studies (Annex 1232).
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6
embroiderer and founder of the Ukrainian Ethnic Embroidery School in Crimea. Further, the
museum’s collection features paintings made and gifted by students of the Department of Visual Arts.
Our students regularly conduct excursions in the museum, discussing various Ukrainian everyday
items, embroidery techniques and the history of the praska (iron). The museum exhibition is located
in one of the classrooms, which allows students to come in touch with and absorb Ukrainian culture
while attending classes in the Ukrainian language and literature, being surrounded by Ukrainian
everyday items and art.
18. I would like to add specifically that the CEPU has always pursued a deliberate policy of
forming and developing a multicultural educational environment. Since the University was opened,
the Ukrainian language has been studied on an equal basis with Russian and Crimean Tatar. And even
after Crimea’s reunification with Russia – when we started observing a noticeable decrease in interest
in the Ukrainian language and a further sharp decline in the contingent of students in the Ukrainian
training programmes – position on preserving the Ukrainian language in the CEPU has remained
unchanged. In my view, the University’s staff, given the specific features of a multicultural
environment of Crimea, has at all times regarded multicultural education – which helps acquire
knowledge about other cultures and understand what common and special things traditions, way of
life, cultural values of peoples have, and raise the youth in the spirit of respect for different ethnicities
– as an important and essential part of the educational process.
I hereby certify that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 22 April 2021
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Witness Statement of
,
29 April 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
I, ,
the Taurida Academy (formerly – the Taurida National Vernadsky
University1) of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education
“Vernadsky Crimean Federal University” (the city of Simferopol, Republic of Crimea, Russia;
hereinafter – “Vernadsky Crimean Federal University”, “the University”), state as follows.
I. Introduction
1. I have been working at the Taurida Academy since 1999 up to the present: during the
indicated period, I held the positions of
2. I am familiar with the statements of Ukraine that allegedly the Russian authorities are
deliberately creating a shortage of teachers for instructing in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar
languages in Crimea and that allegedly as part of this plan, in 2014, the Faculty of Ukrainian
Philology at the Taurida Academy was closed.
3. By virtue of the position I hold and my experience in scientific and pedagogical work at
the Taurida Academy, I possess reliable information about the training of specialists in various
training programmes and specialties carried out at this educational institution, including the training
of teachers of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages. And since I witnessed and observed the
events preceding and accompanying the reorganisation of the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology into
the Department of Ukrainian Philology within the Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism of the
Taurida Academy, in the present witness statement I provide the reasons for and consequences of
this reorganisation. In addition, I provide, among other things, relevant up-to-date information about
1 In accordance with the Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation of 4 August 2014 No. 1465-r, on the
basis of the Taurida National Vernadsky University and other educational and scientific institutions the Federal State
Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education “Vernadsky Crimean Federal University” was created; by
order of the Rector of the latter of 22 December 2014 No. 20, the structure of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal
University was approved, which included the Taurida Academy as a structural unit of the university, while employees
of the Taurida National Vernadsky University were accepted by transfer to the appropriate positions at the Taurida
Academy. Hereinafter, the term “Taurida Academy” is used in relation to the educational institution that implements
programmes of higher professional education in Crimea and named the “Taurida National Vernadsky University” until
2014 and the “Taurida Academy” after 2014.
Translation
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1
2
programmes implemented to train specialists in the following areas: “Philology (Ukrainian
Language and Literature)” and “Philology (Crimean Tatar Language and Literature)”.
4. It should also be noted that at the present moment the Faculty of Slavic Philology and
Journalism and the Faculty of Crimean Tatar and Oriental Philology are still in the process of
structural unification. The departments of the Faculties concerned, with their staffing tables of all
employees remaining, have become part of the recently created Institute of Philology2, which is
another structural unit of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University. As the result, all philological
areas of training were united within the framework of the specialised Institute.
II. Training of specialists in the Ukrainian language and literature
5. The Taurida Academy is the historical successor of the oldest educational institution of
the south of Russia – the Taurida University, founded in 1918. After the reunification of Crimea
with Russia in 2014, the Taurida Academy was one of the key educational institutions on the basis
of which the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University was created.
6. The Faculty of Philology, tracing its history to the founding of the Taurida University,
was divided in 2005 into two independent faculties: the Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism
and the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology. Three departments were formed at the Faculty of Ukrainian
Philology: the Department of Ukrainian Linguistics, the Department of Culture of the Ukrainian
Language and the Department of Theory and History of Ukrainian Literature.
7. During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology
had been actively developing. As the Ukrainian language was the only state language in Crimea at
that time and, therefore, was included in the mandatory school curriculum and studied in all
Crimean schools, training programmes on Ukrainian philology were quite in demand. I attach to the
present witness statement a table reflecting the number of students studying Ukrainian philology in
the period from 2010 until the present3.
8. During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, Law of Ukraine of 17 January 2002
No. 2984-III “On higher education” was in force in Crimea, according to paragraph 2 of Article 30
of which a faculty could be created in a higher educational institution provided that at least three
departments function within its structure and at least 200 students of full-time form of study are
2 By order of the Rector of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University of 22 October 2020 No. 855 “On the
establishment of the Institute of Philology (structural unit), the Institute of Media Communications, Media
Technologies and Design (structural unit)”, as from 1 January 2021, the Institute of Philology (structural unit) was
created in the structure of the University.
3 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Information on the number of students studying
under some philological training programmes between 2010 and 2020 (Annex 718).
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trained there4. As follows from the attached table on the number of students5, the Faculty of
Ukrainian Philology met the specified requirements up to 2014.
9. However, immediately after Crimea became part of the Russian Federation, the number of
students studying at the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology began to decline sharply. Some students of
the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology, without waiting until the end of the 2013/2014 academic year,
switched to other training programmes (mainly to the Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism).
And the majority of students who had studied till the end of the academic year, nevertheless, also
switched to other training programmes at the Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism in the
summer of 2014. For instance, on the basis of orders on the transfer of students, in the period from
April to December 2014, 49 students transferred from the training programme “Philology
(Ukrainian Language and Literature)” to the training programme “Philology (Russian Language and
Literature)”. Besides, some students returned home to Ukraine, since they had initially come to
Crimea from other Ukrainian regions in order to receive education here. For example, from orders
on the dismissal of students pursuant to their applications in connection with the transfer to other
universities, I know that at least 18 students moved to Ukraine from April 2014 to December 2014
and continued their studies there6. In the same period, 35 students applied for dismissal on their
own volition without giving any reason. As a result, by the end of the summer of 2014, it became
clear that due to a sharp decline in the number of students studying in the Ukrainian training
programme7, as well as a significant shortage of students for the first year8, the Faculty of
Ukrainian Philology would no longer be able to function as before.
10. Personally, I associate such steadily falling demand for specialties of Ukrainian
philologists with the fact that the Ukrainian language ceased to be the only state language in Crimea
and received the status of an official language of the Republic on a par with the Crimean Tatar and
Russian languages. And if earlier the Ukrainian language was studied as a subject in every Crimean
school, then after the 2014 referendum and the admission of the Republic of Crimea into the
Russian Federation, the Ukrainian language began to be studied by choice and on the basis of the
applications from the students’ parents who mainly give preference to the Russian language.
Already in 2014, it was obvious and predictable that the interest in Ukrainian training programmes
4 Law of Ukraine No. 2984-III “On higher education”, 17 January 2002 (Annex 749), ceased to be effective in
accordance with the Law of Ukraine of 1 July 2014 No. 1556-VII.
5 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Information on the number of students studying
under some philological training programmes between 2010 and 2020 (Annex 718).
6 In the applications for dismissal submitted by students in connection with their transfer to other universities, the
following higher educational institutions were indicated: Ternopol Vladimir Gnatiuk National Pedagogical University,
Yury Fedkovich Chernovitsky National University, Vasily Stefanik Precarpathian National University, Poltava V.G.
Korolenko National Pedagogical University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev, Ivan Franko National
University of Lvov, Odessa Mechnikov National University, Kherson State University, Kamenets-Podolsky Ivan
Ogienko National University.
7 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Information on the number of students studying
under some philological training programmes between 2010 and 2020 (Annex 718).
8 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Information on the admission of applicants to statefunded
openings of bachelor programmes in the period from 2013 to 2020 (Annex 719).
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4
would only decrease since the need for teachers of the Ukrainian language would be also decreasing
yearly due to the lack of demand for the discipline “Ukrainian language” in general educational
institutions of Crimea.
11. In light of the above objective circumstances, at the meeting of the Academic Board of
the University on 2 September 2014, it was decided to reorganise the Faculty of Ukrainian
Philology9. In its stead, on the basis of the Departments of Ukrainian Linguistics, Culture of the
Ukrainian Language, Theory and History of Ukrainian Literature, the Department of Ukrainian
Philology, as part of the Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism, was created10, which is
successfully functioning to this day. In other words, the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology was
reorganised into the united Department of Ukrainian Philology, which has continued to function and
train specialists in the area of Ukrainian philology, including teachers of the Ukrainian language
and literature, in the past seven years. Of course, it cannot be denied that the reorganisation of the
Faculty of Ukrainian Philology was a forced measure caused primarily by a sharp decline in the
number of students. It was inexpedient to keep in the structure of the University the faculty where
only a few tens of students were trained, that is why such a decision was made by the members of
the Academic Board. I would like to note that if such changes in the number of students had taken
place in a Ukrainian university, then in accordance with the Law of Ukraine on higher education in
force at that time11 and today12, the faculty would have also been dissolved since in a Ukrainian
institution of higher education, as it has been already noted above, a faculty is a structural unit that
can function provided that at least 200 students of full-time form of study are trained there.
12. Today, the Department trains specialists in two training programmes: “45.03.01
Philology (Ukrainian Language and Literature)” and “45.04.01 Philology (Ukrainian Language and
Literature)” – bachelor’s and master’s degrees respectively, as well as postgraduate students in the
specialties “45.06.01 Linguistics and Literary Studies (10.02.03 Slavic Languages)” and “45.06.01
Linguistics and Literary Studies (10.01.03 Literature of the Peoples of Countries Abroad (Ukrainian
Literature).” In the period until 2014, the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology implemented similar
programmes, which, in accordance with the legislation in force at that time, trained specialists at
higher educational institutions in educational qualification levels of bachelor, specialist and master:
“Philology – 6.030500”, “Philology: Ukrainian Language and Literature - 7.030501” and
“Philology: Ukrainian Language and Literature – 8.030501” respectively13.
9 Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Excerpt from Protocol No. 8 of the meeting of the Academic Board of the
Taurida National Vernadsky University, 2 September 2014 (Annex 667).
10 Taurida National Vernadsky University, Order of the Rector No. 163 “On dissolution of the Faculty of Ukrainian
Philology of the Taurida National Vernadsky University”, 4 September 2014 (Annex 668).
11 Law of Ukraine No. 2984-III “On higher education”, 17 January 2002 (Annex 749).
12 Law of Ukraine No. 1556-VII “On higher education”, 1 July 2014 (Annex 751).
13 Taurida National Vernadsky University, Certificate of accreditation, series RD-IV No. 012238 issued by the Ministry
of Education and Science of Ukraine, 22 July 2008 (Annex 774).
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13. As it has been already mentioned above, after 2014, the declining interest in the
Ukrainian language manifested itself, among other things, in a sharp decline in the number of firstyear
students. For instance, if in 2013 target admission quotas were 50 state-funded places, in 2014
the number of state-funded places was reduced to 2514. In this situation, such a reduction of statefunded
places was inevitable, since, due to the decline in the number of applicants for the reasons
indicated above, there was a high probability that even the remaining state-funded places could be
left unfilled. Furthermore, as a rule, such reductions occur on an annual basis in low-demand
specialties from which students very often transfer as they understand that, after graduation, they
will not be able to find employment according to their specialisation. Unfortunately, it so happened
that pedagogical specialties, in principle, are low-demand ones regardless of the region. With that
said, and also in connection with the objective decline in the interest in the Ukrainian language, the
reduction in target admission quotas of students in the “Ukrainian Language and Literature”
training programme was a natural consequence of the said tendencies.
14. In the 2016/2017 academic year, the number of applicants admitted to the Ukrainian
training programme was 15 people. At this time, there was no competition for admission to this
training programme, since there were no more than 15 applicants wishing to enter the “Ukrainian
Language and Literature” training programme. From the attached admission results table15, it can
be seen that every year there is a decrease in the number of applications submitted for training
programmes of Ukrainian philology. Whereas in 2013 the number of such applications was 222,
already in 2014 their number decreased to 58. It should also be noted that the number of
applications submitted does not correspond to the number of students ultimately planning to enrol
in this specialty and participating in the competition for admission. Many students apply for several
training programmes at once and enter the one for which budget place they have enough points.
Accordingly, for many applicants, the programme “Philology (Ukrainian Language and Literature)”
is a fallback option, which they are ready to enter if they, with their points, cannot enrol in other
training programmes or specialties.
15. In the last two years, we have faced a situation when by the time documents for
admission to the “Philology (Ukrainian Language and Literature)” training programme were
submitted, we had 16 applications left altogether. Despite the limited number of state-funded places
of 15 people, we nevertheless found the possibility and both times accepted all 16 applicants16.
16. For quite obvious reasons, due to the significant reduction in the number of students,
there was a decrease in the number of the academic and teaching staff. Some lecturers moved to the
Faculty of Slavic Philology and Journalism, some others moved to other faculties of the Taurida
Academy and a number of lecturers underwent retraining or received an additional specialty. For
14 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Information on the admission of applicants to statefunded
openings of bachelor programmes in the period from 2013 to 2020 (Annex 719).
15 Ibid.
16 Ibid.
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example, former head of the Department of Culture of the Ukrainian language Lyubov Vasilyevna
Savchenko, Doctor of Philological Sciences17, Professor, currently holds the positions of head of
the Department of Advertising, Public Relations and Publishing and Director of the Institute of
Media Communications, Media Technologies and Design (structural unit) of the University18.
There were also cases when lecturers resigned from the University in connection with their
relocation: about five or six employees of the Faculty of Ukrainian Philology left the University and
moved to Ukraine in 2014-2015. I can say that lecturers who wished to stay at the University did so
without any obstacles and continue to work and conduct academic research activities until the
present day. Currently, there are ten lecturers, Candidates of Philological Sciences at the
Department of Ukrainian Philology, seven of whom hold the academic title of Associate Professor
and one is a Professor. The head of the Department is Nikolay Ivanovich Pelipas, Candidate of
Philological Sciences, Associate Professor, working at the University from 2008.
17. The staff of the Department of Ukrainian Philology take part in the organisation and
holding of scientific conferences. For example, the Department of Ukrainian Philology of the
Taurida Academy annually holds a scientific and practical conference dedicated to the works of
Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka and other Ukrainian writers, with the participation of the State
Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education of the Republic of Crimea “Fevzi Yakubov
Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University”, the Humanitarian and Pedagogical Academy of
the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, the Lesya Ukrainka Museum in Yalta. In October 2014,
the regional scientific conference “Shevchenko’s codes and motives in the works of Lesya Ukrainka
and other contemporary writers” was held; on 28-30 October 2015 – the regional scientific
conference “The works of Lesya Ukrainka and other writers and artists of the late XIX – early XX
centuries in the dimensions of intertextuality”; on 26-28 October 2016 – “The work of Lesya
Ukrainka and other writers and artists of modern era in the context of tendencies of dramatization
and theatricalization of the art process”. At the said conferences, in addition to literary, linguistic
and culturological reports dedicated to Lesya Ukrainka, reports on a variety of other topics, from
the literature of the native land to the work of contemporary Ukrainian writers and poets, are also
presented19.
17 Lyubov Vasilyevna Savchenko in 2000 did her thesis for the degree of Candidate of Sciences on the topic “Ukrainian
Phraseography XIX - early XX century” and in 2014 - thesis for the degree of Doctor of Sciences on the topic
“Ethnolinguistic Reconstruction of the Phraseology of the Ukrainian Language”.
18 By order of the Rector of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University of 22 October 2020, No. 855 “On the
establishment of the Institute of Philology (structural unit), the Institute of Media Communications, Media
Technologies and Design (structural unit)”, as from 1 January 2021, the Institute of Media Communications, Media
Technologies and Design (structural unit) was created in the structure of the University.
19 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University official website, “XVII Scientific and Practical
Conference dedicated to the creative work of Lesya Ukrainka”, 1 November 2018 (Annex 1091); Taurida Academy of
the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University official website, “XVIII Annual Scientific and Practical Conference ‘The
work of Lesya Ukrainka and other writers and artists of modern era in the context of tendencies of dramatization and
theatricalization of the art process’”, 25-27 September 2019 (Annex 1108).
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18. The staff and students of the Department also take an active part in seminars, symposia
and conferences organised in other institutions of higher education of Crimea. For example, the
Ukrainian philologists of the State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education of the
Republic of Crimea “Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University” annually
hold a research and practical conference “Taras Shevchenko and the Present” dedicated to the
works of Ukrainian poet and prose writer Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko, in which lecturers and
students of our University take part each and every year.
19. As an educational institution whose scientific and pedagogical staff and students are
intensively involved in research activities we undoubtedly value the contribution made by our
predecessors to the scholarship and development of the University. For instance, in the building of
the Institute of Philology, there is an auditorium named after Professor A.I. Gubar, a Soviet and
Ukrainian scholar, literary critic, publicist, and lecturer. The auditorium houses a library named
after A.I. Gubar, consisting of his personal collection of scientific works and a number of
documents of a biobibliographical nature related to the activities of the scholar20.
20. It should be noted separately that during the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine,
the influence and spread of the Ukrainian language which resulted from the language policy were
perceived much more acutely than in other Ukrainian regions with a large percentage of the
Russian-speaking population. Despite the fact that, in accordance with the Constitution of the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea of 1998, the Russian language had the status of a language of
inter-ethnic communication in Crimea, in various spheres of public life, nevertheless, the artificial
imposition of the Ukrainian language was felt. Over time, the majority of the Russian-speaking
population of the Crimean peninsula became bilingual, but not in the best sense of the word, since
due to the imposition of the Ukrainian language in everyday life, which the older generations also
felt, people were not interested in studying it to high standards, and as a result, few were able to
achieve a good level of proficiency in the Ukrainian language, which ultimately led not to the
development, but to the degradation of the Ukrainian language in Crimea.
21. I personally also experienced such artificial imposition in the academic sphere when I
was
, in accordance with the Ukrainian legislative requirements and standards, had
to be prepared exclusively in the Ukrainian language and the defence of the dissertation was also
held in the Ukrainian language. At the same time, in fact, the Chair of the Dissertation Council who,
during the defence of the dissertation, which took place at the Kiev Taras Shevchenko National
University in the city of Kiev, made remarks and refused to listen to me if I started to speak
20 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Photographs of the library of Professor A.I. Gubar
(Annex 1149).
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Russian, whereas after the end of the meeting, all present immediately switched to the Russian
language when speaking to me, which they were accustomed to using either as a second native
language or an intermediary language.
22. It should not be left unnoticed that the settlement of the issue as regards the status of
languages in Crimea in favour of the recognition of the Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar
languages as the state languages after the reunification of Crimea with Russia, was perceived by
Crimeans as a long-awaited restoration of justice. Today, the Constitution of the Republic of
Crimea and a number of other fundamental documents, in strict accordance with the given
approach, enshrine the right of citizens to choose the language of communication and education,
establish the languages of normative legal acts as well as the rules for the use of the languages in
the work of the authorities, institutions and organisations of Crimea.
III. Training of specialists in the Crimean Tatar language and literature
23. It is assumed that the history of the Faculty of Crimean Tatar and Oriental Philology
began with the establishment of the Faculty of History and Philology at the Taurida University in
1918, where the Oriental division was created. The current stage of the development of the Faculty
of Crimean Tatar and Oriental Philology began with the separation of the Department of the
Crimean Tatar Language and Oriental Philology from the Faculty of Philology in 2002. Today, the
Department of Crimean Tatar Philology, headed by Edie Shevketovna Memetova, Candidate of
Philological Sciences, Associate Professor, and the Department of Oriental Philology, headed by
Ayder Memetovich Memetov, Doctor of Philological Sciences, Professor, function within the
structure of the University.
24. It should be noted at once that during the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, there
was never a Philology School or Philology College of the Taurida National Vernadsky University21.
Therefore, Ukraine’s claims that the training for Crimean Tatar language teachers was cancelled at
the Philology School of the Taurida National Vernadsky University are fundamentally wrong and
untrue, since there has never been such a school under the Taurida National University.
25. The training of students at the Department of Crimean Tatar Philology and the
Department of Oriental Philology is carried out according to the bachelor’s and master’s
programmes in the following training programmes: “Philology (Crimean Tatar Language and
Literature)”, “Philology (Turkish Language and Literature)”, “Philology (Arabic Language and
Literature)”, “Philology (Persian Language and Literature)”. After graduation, graduates mainly
find employment in the field of education as school teachers, university lecturers and also work in
the field of journalism, engage in translation activities.
21 Structure of the Taurida National Vernadsky University was enshrined in the Charter of the Taurida National
Vernadsky University, see Charter of the Taurida National Vernadsky University, 2003 (Annex 654).
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26. After the transition of the University to the Russian educational environment, the
number of state-funded places allocated for the training programme “Philology (Crimean Tatar
Language and Literature)” did not change either in 2014 or 2015; in subsequent years, there were
no significant changes observed either. About 20 applicants enter the bachelor’s programme of fulltime
form of study annually; 14-15 students enter the master’s programme of full-time form of
study. The attached table reflects up-to-date information on target admission quotas for applicants
as well as on the number of applications submitted for the training programme “Philology (Crimean
Tatar Language and Literature)”22.
27. Over the past seven years, no significant changes in the number of scientific and
pedagogical staff at the Departments of Crimean Tatar Philology and of Oriental Philology have
been observed. At the moment, more than 30 lecturers work at the Departments in total, including
3 Doctors of Philological Sciences and more than 10 Candidates of Philological Sciences. After the
reunification of Crimea with Russia, lecturers have become more active in terms of research; along
with teaching activities, they have begun to pay more attention to scientific research, to publish
their work in collections of research papers and publish monographs. Today, scholars of the
University receive financial support, and their research is supported by Russian grants23.
28. One of the large-scale projects worked out by the Faculty is the creation of the
“Electronic Dictionary of the Crimean Tatar Dialects” that makes it possible to translate from
Russian into Crimean Tatar and vice versa24. The project for the creation of the software complex
has been carried out with the financial support of the Russian Humanities Research Foundation
involving equipment of the Russian Institute for Advanced Study of the Federal State Budgetary
Educational Institution of Higher Education “Moscow Pedagogical State University” and the
research centre “Centre for Advanced Convergent Technologies and Communications”, created
within the framework of the Development Programme of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal
University.
29. The defence of the doctoral dissertation on the Crimean Tatar language by Lemara
Sergeevna Selendili, lecturer of the Crimean Tatar language and literature, was a significant event
for the Department of Crimean Tatar Philology. The defence took place in Moscow in 2015 at the
Institute of Linguistics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Today, Lemara Sergeevna, together
with her students, is engaged in studies on the issues of the functioning of the Crimean Tatar
language in Crimea, the Crimean Tatar education, the study of the Crimean Tatar language and
teaching in the Crimean Tatar language in Crimean schools.
22 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Information on the admission of applicants to statefunded
openings of bachelor programmes in the period from 2013 to 2020 (Annex 719).
23 See Scientific and Research Report for 2020, pp. 16-17, Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal
University, Scientific and Research Reports for the years 2015, 2016 and 2020 (Annex 669).
24 Software and lexicographic complex “Electronic dictionary of the Crimean Tatar dialects”, available at:
https://www.qirimtatar-tili.ru/ (Annex 1152).
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30. A scientific school of Crimean Tatar Studies and Oriental Studies headed by Ayder
Memetovich Memetov continues to operate at the University. The scientific school is engaged in indepth
research of current issues of Crimean Tatar linguistics and literary studies, Arabic, Turkish
and Persian philology. In the course of this work, specialists of the school have prepared and
published several textbooks and study guides on the Crimean Tatar language and literature for
schools and universities of Crimea.
31. The University annually holds scientific and practical conferences, seminars and
symposia, where important issues of linguistics, interaction and origin of Turkic languages,
contemporary issues of literature, history and culture of the Turkic world are discussed. The
following examples can be named: the International School-Symposium “Philology without
borders” dedicated to the outstanding Crimean Tatar educator Ismail Gasprinsky, the All-Russian
scientific and practical conference “Current issues of Turkic studies and Oriental studies: history,
ethno-genesis, language and literature of the Turkic-speaking peoples of Crimea”, All-Russian
student scientific and practical conference with international participation “Young Orientalist”25.
32. Students of the Crimean Tatar division participate annually in the All-Russian Olympiad
for schoolchildren and students in the state languages of the republics of the Russian Federation and
win prizes. In Crimea, the Olympiad is held in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages. More
information about all achievements of students and lecturers of the Departments of Crimean Tatar
Philology and of Oriental Philology, their participation in scientific, research and cultural-mass
activities, can be found on the pages of the student newspaper of the Taurida Academy, one of the
editions of which was dedicated to the Faculty of Crimean Tatar and Oriental Philology26.
IV. Conclusion
33. In conclusion, I would like to note that all the reorganisations and changes that have
taken place over the past seven years in the structural units of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal
University were first of all aimed at ensuring the quality functioning thereof, creating favourable
conditions for students and scientific and pedagogical staff. We undoubtedly seek to preserve and
develop existing scientific schools, optimise educational processes in accordance with the demand
for educational services in the realities of our time. It is difficult to imagine a situation that the
University will close or reduce popular specialties that are in demand among students and
applicants.
34. After the reunification of Crimea with Russia, the transition from the Ukrainian
educational system to the Russian one was not easy, but we navigated through it successfully and in
25 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Scientific and Research Reports for the years 2015,
2016 and 2020 (Annex 669).
26 Taurida Academy of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University, Student newspaper, Issue No. 11, 2016 (Annex
1062).
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a timely manner: all curricula and educational programmes were revised according to Russian state
standards. As a result, today we have a successfully developing University of an innovative type,
whose activities are focused on advanced scientific research, the provision of high-quality
educational services, the deepening of knowledge and the preservation of the traditions of one of the
oldest educational institutions of Crimea.
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the above information is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 29 April 2021
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Witness
13 May 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, , have been working in the State Budgetary General
Educational Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted
Children” (the village of Tankovoe, Bakhchisaray district, the Republic of Crimea, Russia; hereinafter
– “Gymnasium”) From the moment I came to the Gymnasium, I have been working as a
2. Considering the fact that I have been working in the Gymnasium for over 20 years, I have
extensive information as regards the organisation of the teaching and learning process in the said
educational institution both during the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine and after the
reunification of Crimea with Russia. In the present witness statement, I provide information about the
educational activity in our Gymnasium during the indicated periods and also touch upon some points
related to the transition of the educational system in Crimea to Russian standards.
3. Our Gymnasium has always been very popular and the number of children wanting to join
us continues to grow every year. For this reason, in 2014, it was decided to open a branch of the
Gymnasium in the Crimean capital. Today, the Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children operates
on the basis of two institutions: in the village of Tankovoe, Bakhchisaray district, and in the city of
Simferopol.
4. As of now, our Gymnasium carries out educational activity under two levels of education:
basic general education (from grades 6 to 9) and secondary general education (from grades 10 to 11).
The language of instruction is the Russian language.Nevertheless, at the same time, certain disciplines
are studied using elements of bilingual education. For instance, subjects such as mathematics and
biology are studied in two languages simultaneously – in Russian and in English.
5. In accordance with the curriculum of our Gymnasium, great attention at all levels of
education is paid to improving the linguistic abilities of students. The students of our Gymnasium
study English and German as foreign languages, they also studied Turkish until 2015. Within the
framework of the mandatory subject area “Native Language” and “Literature in Native Language”,
we offer the study of the native languages from among the languages of the peoples of the Russian
Federation, including the Ukrainian and the Crimean Tatar languages. Until 2016, studying Russian,
Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar was mandatory for all students of our Gymnasium. And starting from
Translation
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2
the 2016/2017 academic year, the Ukrainian and the Crimean Tatar languages have been studied at
the request of students and their parents.
6. As an additional point on linguistic education, I note that in our Gymnasium special
attention has always been paid to the area of humanities, including the in-depth study of languages.
During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, the educational activity in the Gymnasium was
carried out in the Russian language, as it is now. The English, German and Turkish languages were
studied as foreign languages. The Ukrainian language was included in the mandatory programme
since it was the only state language, so it was studied by all students of the Gymnasium at all levels
of education. Graduating classes passed a mandatory examination in the Ukrainian language, as well
as in the Russian language. In accordance with the curriculum, studying Russian and Crimean Tatar
was also mandatory in our Gymnasium for all students.
7. Today, in accordance with our internal regulation on the languages of education1, when
children are admitted to the Gymnasium, their parents (legal representatives) indicate in their
applications what native language and literature they want their children to study. I attach to the
present witness statement a table with information on the study of languages in our Gymnasium2,
which clearly shows that after students were able to choose to study their native (Ukrainian and
Crimean Tatar) languages, the number of Gymnasium students studying these languages began to
decrease rapidly. This tendency is especially evident when it comes to the study of the Ukrainian
language as a native language. For example, if in the 2016/2017 academic year, out of
156 Gymnasium students, 103 [students] studied the Ukrainian language (the same number of
students studied the Crimean Tatar language), then in the 2019/2020 academic year, out of
162 Gymnasium students, 20 studied the Ukrainian language and 41 – the Crimean Tatar language.
8. In my opinion, the decrease in the number of the Gymnasium students wishing to study
their native (Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar) languages is associated with the lack of interest of children
and their parents in knowing these languages and in their further practical use. The fact that the
majority of students did not choose to study the Ukrainian and the Crimean Tatar languages after they
were given such a choice confirms that the study of Ukrainian and the Crimean Tatar as mandatory
subjects in the previous period did not instil sufficient interest in the subjects for students to continue
choosing them voluntarily. Should the number of students wishing to study the Ukrainian language
be increased, the Gymnasium will always be able to organise and provide them with such an
opportunity, as teachers of the Ukrainian language and literature continue to work here.
1 Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children, Regulation on the languages of education, 22 July 2019 (Annex
717).
2 Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children, Information on the study of languages between 2011 and 2021
(Annex 733).
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9. After Crimea became part of the Russian Federation, Crimean educational institutions were
integrated into the Russian educational system: the general educational programmes were revised in
accordance with the federal state educational standards. We, like all Crimean schools, switched from
the twelve-point knowledge assessment system to the five-point assessment system, known and
familiar to many. The point is that in Ukraine the twelve-point scale assessment system was
introduced only in 2000; although such a system allows for a more differentiated assessment of
schoolchildren’s knowledge, it nevertheless took a long time to get used to it. Probably, this is one of
the reasons why the return back to the five-point system was overall perceived positively in Crimea.
10. , I can say that, of course, significant changes have also taken place
in the teaching of the school subject “History”. The federal basic curriculum and sample curricula for
the educational institutions of the Russian Federation provide for the study of the school subject
“History”, consisting of the courses “General History” and “History of Russia”. Given that the subject
“History of Ukraine” is not provided for in the said curricula, it is not studied in the Russian general
educational institutions. Nevertheless, the fact that the course “History of Russia” began to be studied
in Crimean schools did not raise any big astonishment either from students or teachers. First of all,
the history of Russia was partially addressed in the course “World History”, which was included in
the Ukrainian educational programmes in the period up to 2014. At the same time, one should not
forget that at certain times the history of Ukraine was closely related to the history of Russia. And
given that the majority of Crimea’s population are ethnic Russians, it is clear that the history of Russia
was not a new and unknown discipline for Crimeans.
11. Secondly, the history of the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples is covered within a
course on regional studies, on a par with the history of other peoples. For instance, the students of our
Gymnasium from grades 6 to 9 study the course “Crimean studies”, which covers such topics as the
history of their native land, [its] geography and culture, the ethnic composition of Crimea’s
population. At the same time, the educational programmes provide for the study of the regional
studies disciplines aimed at the formation of students’ knowledge not only about the natural and
cultural riches of their native land, but also about the historical past of Crimea. Certainly, the period
when Crimea was part of Ukraine is also studied in this course.
12. As part of the pedagogical work, our Gymnasium regularly hosts events aimed at studying
the history, culture and creative works of various peoples living in the territory of the Crimean
Peninsula. For example, for more than 10 years, we have been organising an annual event called
“Crimea – our common home”3, in which representatives of national communities and public
3 Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children official website, “Ten days of the methodological association of
educators and class teachers ‘Crimea - our common home!’”, 20 February 2019 (Annex 1099).
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organisations of Bulgarians, Karaites, Germans, Crimean Tatars, Greeks, Ukrainians, Jews and
Russians take part.
13. In 2015, by the efforts of students, parents and employees of the Gymnasium, the
ethnographic museum “Multinational Crimea” was established at the Gymnasium, which presents
nine expositions telling about the everyday life, culture, traditions and customs of the peoples of
Crimea: Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians, Russians, Greeks, Bulgarians, Kazan Tatars, Jews,
Azerbaijanis, Krymchaks and Karaites. Each exposition presents household, clothing and decoration
items of Crimea’s ethnicities and ethnic groups, from the origins to our days, including cuisine,
clothing, folklore, poetry, biographies of historical figures4.
14. On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, many Crimean schools hold
events dedicated to the theme of language and aimed at protecting and promoting respect for all
languages. This year, our Gymnasium hosted an event called “Atlas of the Mother Language ‘Er erde
indjinden destanlar ormek...’ [original in Crimean Tatar] (‘The ancient poems’ pearl setting…’)”,
within the framework of which the students of our Gymnasium recited poems in the Crimean Tatar,
Russian and Ukrainian languages, praising the mother language5.
15. In honour of the anniversary of the birth of twice Hero of the Soviet Union, pilot Amet-
Khan Sultan, a poster competition6 and an exhibition of drawings7 were held at our Gymnasium in
2020. The students of the Gymnasium, regardless of their ethnic identity, participated in both of them
with pleasure: they prepared posters, compiled biographical notes about the legendary Crimean Tatar
pilot and made drawings of his image.
16. The students of our Gymnasium regularly take an active part in competitions and festivals
dedicated to the Crimean Tatar language and the culture of the Crimean Tatar people. For instance,
every year a festival called Korbekkul Gülleri8 is held at the republican level in Crimea, the goals and
objectives of which are to support talented children and youth, to preserve and develop the national
Crimean Tatar culture and create new traditions and forms of communication. From year to year, the
students from our Gymnasium take prizes in various nominations: vocal, choreography, art of
declamation.
4 Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children official website, “The ethnographic museum ‘Multinational
Crimea’”, 1 December 2020 (Annex 1146).
5 Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children official website, “Atlas of the Mother Language ‘The ancient poems’
pearl setting…’”, 20 February 2021 (Annex 1155).
6 Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children official website, “Poster competition dedicated to the 100th
anniversary of the birth of Amet-Khan Sultan”, 26 October 2020 (Annex 1138).
7 Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children official website, “Exhibition of drawings dedicated to the 100th
anniversary of the birth of Amet-Khan Sultan”, 26 October 2020 (Annex 1139).
8 Crimean Boarding Gymnasium for Gifted Children official website, “Republican Festival of Crimean Tatar Culture
‘Korbekkul Gülleri’”, 30 November 2019 (Annex 1109).
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17. After Crimea became part of Russia, the requirements of the Russian legislation began to
apply to our Gymnasium as well as to other educational institutions of Crimea. In Russia, for the
purpose of monitoring the compliance of educational institutions with regulatory requirements and
assessing the quality of the implementation of training and educational activity, educational
institutions are regularly subjected to thorough checks by various supervisory authorities. Control and
supervision in the educational sphere are carried out by various state authorities, such as
Rosobrnadzor (Russian Federal Education and Science Supervision Service), Rospotrebnadzor
(Russian Federal State Agency for Health and Consumer Rights), Roskomnadzor (Russian Federal
Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Informational Technologies and Mass
Communication), as well as the law enforcement authorities. In particular, scheduled and unscheduled
checks are carried out in schools to check the compliance of premises and equipment with the sanitary
norms, the availability of attestation documents and compliance with fire safety regulations. As part
of compliance with the Russian legislation on countering extremist activity, the library collections of
educational institutions are periodically reconciled against the federal list of prohibited extremist
materials. At the Gymnasium, a working group has been established that is responsible for checking
available and newly received literature and educational materials at the library and on computers of
the institution to ensure that they are not included in the list of prohibited literature. The law
enforcement authorities are also allowed to examine the premises of educational institutions,
including their library collections, to check the compliance of the school with the requirements of the
legislation on countering extremist activity.
18. I would like to note right away that there are publications in the media regarding one such
examination (or check), which was carried out in our Gymnasium in 2014. Nevertheless, the said
check was mistakenly called “the search” in these publications and, in this regard, the said events
were presented by some media in a distorted light. Now I can no longer say for sure the representatives
of which authority came to us then, no one introduced themselves to me personally, and all the
interaction was carried out through the former headmaster. I know that the library was examined for
the presence of extremist literature. As a matter of fact, that one-time check, which was no different
from the other ones carried out by the state authorities, did not in any way affect the educational
process and did not concern the students. Nevertheless, in the absence of any objective reasons, it
attracted the attention of the media at the time. Since then, there have been no such situations.
19. Due to the fact that, in Ukraine, this important issue was not given proper attention, at
first, the requirement to reconcile the library collections against the list of prohibited extremist
materials might have seemed unusual and unclear to someone. Now everyone treats this as a
necessary routine event, primarily aimed at preventing the involvement of our students into extremist,
terrorist and other radical organisations, which is becoming more and more relevant in this time.
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20. Realising the importance of the said issue, we also strive, within the framework of the
educational work during open lessons or class meetings dedicated to social dangers and the means of
protection against them, to bring to the students of our Gymnasium information about such socially
dangerous phenomena as extremism and terrorism as well as the threat that they pose to the entire
society. The pedagogical work on such topics is carried out in educational institutions so that children
can form an idea of precautionary measures, anti-terrorist security rules, and ways to protect
themselves and others in extreme situations.
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in the present
witness statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 13 May 2021
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Witness Statement of
13 May 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, , hold the position the Faculty of
History, Arts, the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature at the State Budgetary Educational
Institution of Higher Education of the Republic of Crimea “Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering Pedagogical University” (Simferopol, Republic of Crimea, Russia; hereinafter – the “University” or
the “CEPU”) since . I have worked at the University practically since its establishment, i.e. since
1995. I am a of the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature and have a
Since I joined the University, I worked of the
Department of the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature, since 2002 the
Department of Crimean Tatar and Turkish Linguistics, and between September 2010 and 2015 –
.
2. Given my qualification and work experience, I can provide detailed information about the
workings of departments implementing training programmes for teachers in the Crimean Tatar
Language and Literature at the CEPU both before and after Crimea’s accession to Russia and on the
opportunities our students have to study and familiarise themselves with the history, culture and art
of various peoples living in Crimea.
3. The Faculty of History, Arts, the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature was established
in 2015 as a result of merger of two faculties of the University: the Faculty of Crimean Tatar and
Turkish Philology and the Faculty of Arts. Now the faculty encompasses seven specialized
departments that implement programmes in various specialties and training programmes for
specialists, including the Department of Crimean Tatar and Turkish Linguistics, the Department of
Crimean Tatar Literature and Journalism.
4. Educational, scientific and creative activities of each department are focused on the study
and promotion of the language, history and culture of both the Crimean Tatar people and other peoples
living in Crimea. Thus, for instance, the Department of History offers students an opportunity to
choose elective disciplines from a programme, including those with elements of the Crimean Tatar
language such as “History of the Crimean Tatar Language”, “Old Crimean Tatar Writing”, “Arabic
Script” and “History of Crimea”. Therefore, students of history studying at our faculty have the
opportunity to do an in-depth study of the Crimean Tatar language.
Translation
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focus on future employment opportunities and, in principle, understand that for objective reasons
demand for Ukrainian has considerably fallen both in the educational sphere and other areas. In
addition, our graduates in the specialty “ a Ukrainian
Language and Literature” more likely go on to work as English teachers rather than Ukrainian ones.
8. Now the Department of Ukrainian Philology prepares students for graduation in the training
programmes ), 45.04.01 Philolo s programme).
Graduates of the department receive a bachelor’s degree in the training programme “Teaching
Philological Disciplines (The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language and
Literature)” and a degree of master philologist under the programme of “Anthropocentric Paradigm
of Literary and Lin ic Space and its Role in Teaching Philological Disciplines”. I attach to this
witness state principal professional educational programmes of higher
programmes3.
9. Our department also functions as a university-wide department, hers
give lessons of the Ukrainian language to first-year students of absolutely all specialties an
ian Federation, on the initiative of first
rector Fevzi Yakubovich Yakubov, the CEPU’s Academic and Methodological Council resolved that
all the three state languages of the Republic of Crimea would be mandatory in bachelor’s programmes
for all specialties at the University4. Thus, as per curricula, absolutely all first-year students study the
discipline “State Languages of the Republic of Crimea” which is a basic discipline. Its study load is
108 hours. The Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar languages are studied as separate subjects
under this discipline. I attach copies of some non-philological programmes of higher education clearly
demonstrating that the compulsory educational programme under different training programmes
include the discipline “State Languages of the Republic of Crimea”5.
10. Around 10 students in each year course now study “Teaching Philological Disciplines
(The English Language and Literature, the Ukrainian Language and Literature)” at our department.
During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, each group had about 15 people, and the number
of groups was significantly higher. As compared with the Ukrainian period, the number of students
in Ukrainian specialties has declined, but it has been a gradual process rather than an instantaneous
3 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Main professional educational programme of higher
education in the bachelor’s training programme “Teaching philological disciplines (The English Language and Literature,
the Ukrainian Language and Literature)”, 2020 (Annex 722); Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical
University, Curriculum for the master’s training programme “Anthropocentric paradigm of literary and linguistic space
and its role in teaching philological disciplines”, 2019 (Annex 710).
4 Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Excerpt from Protocol No. 9 of the meeting of the Academic and
Methodological Council, 19 May 2015 (Annex 671).
5 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Main professional educational programme of higher
education in the bachelor’s training programmes Economics (Specialisation “Accounting, Analysis and Audit”) and
Operation of transport and technological machines and complexes (Specialisation “Automobiles and Automotive
Industry”), 2020 (Annex 723).
2 /signed/
5. Traditional decorative and applied art and culture of Crimea in general are one of the main
subjects of study at the Department of Decorative Art. “Ways to Develop Modern Decorative and
Applied Art and Art of Peoples of Crimea” is the general area of academic research of the
department’s teachers. Since 2007, the department has annually organised the conference “Crimean
Dialogues: Culture, Art, Education” for teachers, research fellows, postgraduate students, master’s
degree students, and students, and published a collection of research papers of that conference, held
exhibitions and roundtables on modern issues of culture, art and education in the area of cultural
studies and art history. I attach to this statement copies of some of such collections, namely
publications of 2010, 2015, 2016 and 20201.
6. The Departments of Decorative, Visual and Musical and Instrumental Arts provide
vocational education to future artists, sculptors, designers, art historians and musicians specialised in,
among others, creative works, culture and art of peoples of Crimea. The Department of Musical and
Instrumental Art has various student ensembles and orchestras, including such widely recognised
ones (outside Crimea as well) as the Violin Ensemble “Selsebil”2, the Orchestra of Folk Instruments
of Peoples of Russia, the Student Orchestra of Crimean Tatar Folk Instruments.
7. The main objective of the Department of Vocal Studies and Conducting is to research the
issue of national education amid the revival of music culture of the Crimean Tatar people. The
University houses artistic groups that have won awards at international and republican competitions,
including the Mixed Choir, the “Tan Yildizi” Vocal Ensemble headed by E.A. Seytmemetova, the
“Uchan-su” Folk Choreographic Ensemble, the “Djan” Vocal Ensemble headed by Z.S. Kenzhikaeva,
the “Ilham!” Vocal Ensemble headed by A.A. Chergeev, the “Exalte” Vocal Ensemble headed by
E.F. Mukhterem. I attach hereby materials from festive events of recent years3.
8. Besides, our faculty’s priority is to preserve and develop the Crimean Tatar language both
academically and as a living language. Over the years, the Department of Crimean Tatar and Turkish
Linguistics has continued to train teaching personnel in double specialties: “The Crimean Tatar
Language and Literature, the Russian Language and Literature”, “The Crimean Tatar Language and
Literature, the English Language and Literature”. Graduates of the department have a unique
1 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Collections of research papers “Crimean Dialogues:
Culture, Art, Education” (Annex 1049).
2 See “Crimean Melodies” performed by the “Selsebil” Violin Ensemble, the “Vienna Starfall” International Music
Competition and Festival, Simferopol, Crimea, Russia, 21 May 2015,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_TcC6M7wM0; Recital of the “Yanardag” Ensemble jointly with the “Selsebil”
Ensemble, 9 June 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXOQzn5U1XY.
3 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, Festive events with participation of
the CEPU ensembles held between 2017 and 2019 (Annex 1064).
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opportunity – and some kind of a guarantee – to be employed at Crimean general educational
institutions either in one of the languages specified in their diplomas or simultaneously in two.
9. The Department of Crimean Tatar and Turkish Linguistics was established as a result of a
gradual reorganisation of the Department of Philology that had existed at the University since the
latter opened. Apart from divisions for Ukrainian, Russian and English philology, the department had
a division for the Crimean Tatar language and literature, on the basis of which the Department of
Crimean Tatar Philology was established in 1996. As the number of specialties grew in the
Department of Crimean Tatar Philology, in 2002 it was reorganised into the Department of Crimean
Tatar and Turkish Philology and then in October 2005 split into two independent educational
structures – the Department of Crimean Tatar and Turkish Literature and the Department of Crimean
Tatar and Turkish Linguistics. The establishment of the Department of Crimean Tatar and Turkish
Linguistics was driven by increased research and teaching activities in the area of new subfields of
linguistics and by the necessity to train high-qualified specialists for certain specialties.
10. Today the department’s staff are taking efforts to ensure that students have a high
command of Crimean Tatar as a state language of the Republic of Crimea. The Department of
Crimean Tatar and Turkish Linguistics has the following educational bachelor’s programmes:
45.03.01 Philology, training programme “Teaching Philological Disciplines” (the Crimean Tatar
Language and Literature, the English Language and Literature; the Crimean Tatar Language and
Literature, the Russian Language and Literature)” and master’s programme 45.04.01 “Philology,
specialty “Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Crimean Tatar Philology”.
11. It should be noted that these specialties under bachelor’s and master’s programmes existed
at the CEPU when Crimea was part of Ukraine as well, though they had slightly different names:
“Philology. Teacher of the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature, the Russian Language and
Literature” and “Philology. Teacher of the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature, the English
Language and Literature”. The number of students learning these specialties has remained unchanged
as compared with that in the Ukrainian period – 15 people in each group.
12. The same applies to educational programmes of master’s and postgraduate programmes
implemented at the Department of Crimean Tatar and Turkish Linguistics. During the period when
Crimea was part of Ukraine, the master’s programme used to be called “Philology. Language and
Literature (Crimean Tatar)”, since 2015 it became – “Philology. Theoretical and Practical Aspects of
Crimean Tatar Philology”. Title of the postgraduate programme “Languages of Peoples of Asia,
Africa, Indigenous Peoples of America and Australia” changed into “Languages of Peoples of the
Russian Federation (Turkic Languages)”. The changes in titles of these programmes had no impact
upon the number of hours or the content of such programmes in comparison to what they used to be
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in the Ukrainian period. Two candidate’s dissertations are now pending with the Department of
Crimean Tatar and Turkish Linguistics, and our postgraduate students are preparing to defend them
now in the Russian educational environment.
13. Formed in 2005, the Department of Crimean Tatar Literature and Turkish Literature has
also undergone certain changes: as the specialty 42.02.03 “Journalism” was introduced at the
department in 2013, the latter eventually became the Department of Crimean Tatar Literature and
Journalism. Aside from studying Crimean Tatar, our students also have an opportunity to explore the
richest traditions of a centuries-old history of Crimean Tatar national literature. The department’s
graduates can work in the areas of education and journalism, television and radio broadcasting,
publishing and printing and translation.
14. Research into various spheres of Crimean Tatar literature studies is carried out under the
guidance of the department’s leading specialists. Work on preparation of candidate’s dissertations
under specialty 10.01.02 “Crimean Tatar Literature” continues at the department. Students, master’s
degree students, and postgraduate students of the department present their research achievements at
annual regional and international conferences held in partnership with the Department of Crimean
Tatar Literature and Journalism. I attach copies of programmes from research and practical seminars,
conferences and roundtables dedicated to, among other, the issues of studying Crimean Tatar
literature4.
15. Generally, I can say that, after integration into the Russian educational environment,
interest in studying the Crimean Tatar language, literature, history, art and creative works of the
Crimean Tatar people has not decreased. This is confirmed by numbers of places for the students
enrolled in the relevant specialties and training programmes and results of professional, research and
creative activities of teachers, master’s degree students, postgraduate students and students of all
departments of the Faculty of History, Arts, the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature. Materials I
attach to my statement clearly demonstrate that students are interested in, and express a desire for,
studying and knowing their native language, the history, culture and creative works of their people,
and familiarising themselves with a variety of interethnic cultures and the historic heritage of Crimea.
16. I would like to add specifically that during the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine
educational programmes of higher education were always taught in Russian at the CEPU. Research
work was generally carried out in Russian as indicated by copies of collections of research papers
“Crimean Dialogues: Culture, Art, Education” published also in Russian during the period when
4 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Programmes from research and practical seminars,
conferences and roundtables held at the CEPU in 2017-2019 (Annex 691).
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Crimea was part of Ukraine5. Nowadays educational activities at the University continue to be carried
out in Russian. Just as during the Ukrainian period, educational, guidance and research literature in
Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar is used in the course of the implementation of the main
educational programmes at the University.
17. Moreover, all three now state languages of the Republic of Crimea (Russian, Ukrainian
and Crimean Tatar) are studied at all faculties of our University. Students of every training
programme of the University learn all the three state languages as a mandatory discipline in the first
year. Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar were studied before, however, after the three languages
have been granted the status of the state languages of the Republic of Crimea in 2014, a separate
discipline “State Languages of the Republic of Crimea” was added to the bachelor’s curriculum, with
a study load of 108 hours.
18. Our University regularly holds scientific, educational and cultural events aimed at the
development of a multicultural education system, the main objective of which is to preserve national
cultures and languages of different peoples living in Crimea. Each department organises and holds
competitions, master classes, festive concerts and exhibitions as part of the week of the Faculty of
History, Arts, the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature. For example, the Department of Crimean
Tatar Literature and Journalism organises a recitation competition in Crimean Tatar called “Shiriyet
aleminde”, during which students can demonstrate their skills in reciting fictional and literary texts
of classical authors and of their own authorship, and a contest on Crimean Tatar and Turkish literature
called “Ilham çoqraği”. I attach materials with a detailed description of the events held during the
week of the Faculty of History, Arts, the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature6.
19. To promote the study and active use of the Crimean Tatar language, the Department of
Crimean Tatar and Turkish Linguistics annually organises an academic competition on the Crimean
Tatar language held on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day7. Around 200 people
participate in the above academic competition, including students of our University and other higher
educational institutions and students of schools of Simferopol, Simferopol District, Bakhchisaray,
Sudak and Dzhankoy District. Such events are held to attract public attention, including that of the
youth, to the Crimean Tatar language, history and culture of the Crimean Tatar people.
5 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Collections of research papers “Crimean Dialogues:
Culture, Art, Education” (Annex 1049).
6 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “CEPU hosted a Week of the Faculty
of History, Arts, the Crimean Tatar Language and Literature”, 3 April 2018 (Annex 1086).
7 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University official website, “CEPU hosted the first round of the
XI Crimean Tatar Language Olympiad among youth”, 25 February 2019 (Annex 1100).
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20. The preservation and promotion of the heritage of a multi-ethnic people of Crimea have
always been considered one of the most important aims for both research and cultural activities
carried out at our University. The Scientific Research Centre of the Crimean Tatar Language,
Literature, History and Artistic Culture was opened in 2004 at the then Crimean State Industrial and
Pedagogical Institute with a view to creating an environment for academic research and the
systematisation of linguistic, literary, cultural, historical and folklore material about the life and
activities of Crimean Tatars. In February 2015, the centre was reorganised into the Research Institute
of Crimean Tatar Philology, History, and Culture of Ethnic Groups of Crimea (the “Research
Institute”) at the CEPU. One of the centre’s current objectives is to study the life and living conditions
of various peoples living in Crimea, including Crimean Tatars, Karaites, Krymchaks8. Today the
Research Centre has four divisions: the Division for the Crimean Tatar Language and Languages of
Small Ethnic Groups of Crimea, the Division for Crimean Tatar Literature and Folklore Studies, the
Division for History of Crimea, the Division for Culture of Crimean Tatars and Small Ethnic Groups
of Crimea. Many employees of our faculty work at the Research Institute. For many years now, I
have been working as of the Division for the Crimean Tatar Language and
Languages of Small Ethnic Groups of Crimea.
21. The Research Institute’s staff are engaged in various research activities: they publish
collections of research papers, defend dissertations and compile study guides, textbooks, guidelines
for schools and higher educational institutions of Crimea. For instance, the Research Institute
annually hosts the All-Russian Research Conference “Philology, history and culture of Crimean
Tatars: traditions and modernity”9, the objective of which is to promote research into Crimean Tatar
culture, history, ethnography, philology, to exchange experience in studying Crimean Tatar issues at
educational institutions of various types, to enhance scientific contacts among scientists researching
the above issues. The conference is held in Crimean Tatar and other Turkic languages, as well as in
Russian, Ukrainian, English and German.
22. To perform the order by the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of
Crimea, the Research Institute’s staff have also taken part in the preparation of textbooks in Crimean
Tatar for general education institutions. The Research Institute’s staff have carried out and continue
to perform the work of translating and editing of textbooks and developing curricula for Crimean
general education institutions.
8 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Programmes of scientific and research events held
by the Research Institute of Crimean Tatar Philology, History, and Culture of Ethnic Groups of Crimea between 2018
and 2020 (Annex 700).
9 Fevzi Yakubov Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, Programmes of the XII, XIII and XIV All-Russian
Research Conferences “Philology, history and culture of Crimean Tatars: traditions and modernity” held in 2018, 2019
and 2020 respectively (Annex 701).
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23. In view of the above, for many years, the CEPU has been engaged in a targeted and diverse
work to preserve, promote and develop the Crimean Tatar language and literature and the historical
and cultural heritage of Crimean Tatars and other peoples whose fate is inextricably bound to the
peninsula.
I hereby certify that the above information is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
Signature: /Signed/
Full name:
Date: 13 May 2021
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Annex 13
Witness Statement of Ayder Serverovich Ablyatipov,
17 May 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF AYDER SERVEROVICH ABLYATIPOV
I. Introduction
1. I, Ayder Serverovich Ablyatipov, born in 1957, hold the academic degree of
Candidate of Sciences in Pedagogy and the academic title of Associate Professor, have spent all my
working life in the field of general and professional education. From 1987 to 1994, I worked in the
field of inspection of schools, boarding schools and orphanages as the leading and, later, as the chief
inspector-methodologist of the Ministry of Education of Uzbekistan. I have been working in the
educational system of the Republic of Crimea since 1995; I held the positions of the chief specialist
of the Division for Educational Work and the head of the Department of Social Protection of
Childhood and Educational Work of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea (from 1995 to 2005). From 2005 to 2011, I worked as the Deputy Minister of
Education and Science of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. From May 2014 to October 2020, I
held the position of the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea.
At the present moment, I am an adviser to the Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of
Crimea. My working experience also includes leadership positions in the higher educational
institutions of the Republic of Crimea. By virtue of the position I hold and my working experience in
the field of education, also that in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the Republic of Crimea,
I have reliable and exhaustive information about the system of providing education, including
education in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages, to the residents of Crimea.
2. In preparation of the present statement, I familiarised myself with the claims of the
Ukrainian side before the International Court of Justice, including Ukraine’s allegations of violation
of the provisions of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination of 1965 by the Russian Federation and the relevant materials accompanying the said
claims. Ukraine, among other things, unjustifiably alleges discrimination in the field of education
against Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars living in Crimea manifested in the reduction of opportunities
for Crimean children to receive education in the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages, the
elimination of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar culture in educational programmes as well as the
decrease in the quality and accessibility of education aimed for Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.
3. Taking into account Ukraine’s allegations of Russia’s alleged discriminatory policy
towards Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars in the field of education in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar
Translation
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2
languages in the territory of the Republic of Crimea, in the present witness statement, I provide
information on how, in general, the Russian Federation regulates the study of and the acquisition of
general education in the native languages of citizens of Russia (the languages of the peoples of the
Russian Federation, including the state languages of the republics), and also on how the right of
citizens to receive education in their native language has been implemented in the Republic of Crimea
after 2014. In doing so, I rely on my personal long-term experience of working in the educational
system of the Republic of Crimea both before and after 2014.
II. The right to study in one’s native language and its regulation by the law of the
Russian Federation
4. Article 43 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation sets forth the right of everyone
to education. It guarantees the general accessibility and gratuitousness of general1 education in state
and municipal educational institutions. In addition, basic general education is compulsory2.
5. Russia is a multinational state and Article 68 of the Constitution of the Russian
Federation guarantees to all of its peoples the right to preserve their native language and to create
conditions for its study and development. Article 26 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation
provides for the right to a free choice of the language of communication, upbringing, education and
creative work. Article 19 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation prohibits all forms of
limitations of the rights of citizens of the Russian Federation on national, linguistic or other grounds3.
6. In accordance with the referred to constitutional provisions, citizens of the Russian
Federation are guaranteed education in the Russian language, the state language of the Russian
Federation and also, in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 14 of the Federal Law “On education
in the Russian Federation” of 29.12.2012 No. 273-FZ (hereinafter – “Law on education in the Russian
Federation”), “the choice of the language of education and upbringing within the opportunities
provided by the educational system”4. In accordance with the Law of the Russian Federation “On the
languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation” of 25.10.1991 No. 1807-1, citizens of the Russian
Federation have the right to freely choose the language of education5.
1 General education shall be understood to include the following levels of education: preschool, primary general, basic
general and secondary general education, see Federal Law No. 273-FZ “On education in the Russian Federation”,
29 December 2012 (Annex 58), part 4 of Article 10.
2 Constitution of the Russian Federation, 12 December 1993 (Annex 28), Article 43.
3 Ibid., Articles 19, 26, 68.
4 Federal Law No. 273-FZ “On education in the Russian Federation”, 29 December 2012 (Annex 58), part 1 of Article
14.
5 Law of the Russian Federation No. 1807-1 “On the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation”, 25 October
1991 (Annex 25), Article 9.
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7. In relation to such constituent entities of the Russian Federation as republics the
Constitution of the Russian Federation provides for some peculiarities as regards the implementation
of language policy. Unlike the other constituent entities of the Russian Federation, the republics can
establish their own state languages. They can be used alongside with the state language of the Russian
Federation in government and local self-government bodies, and state institutions6. Moreover, the
republics have the right to introduce the teaching and study of the state languages of the republics
within their territories in accordance with their legislation, but not to the detriment of the teaching of
the state language of the Russian Federation7. This means that the state language of the republic may
be a compulsory subject in the curriculum for all students, including those for whom it is not native.
8. At the same time, this provision does not provide for special rights for citizens to
receive education specifically in the state language of the republic. The stipulated at the legislative
level conditions on the right to receive education in the native language apply equally to all languages
of the peoples of the Russian Federation and throughout the entire territory of Russia. In the Law on
education in the Russian Federation, these conditions are defined as follows: “Citizens of the Russian
Federation have the right to receive preschool, primary general and basic general education in their
native language from among the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation as well as the
right to study their native language from among the languages of the peoples of the Russian
Federation, including the Russian language as a native language, within the limits of the opportunities
provided by the educational system and in the manner prescribed by the legislation on education”8.
9. In accordance with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the general issues of
education in the Russian Federation fall within the joint jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and its
constituent entities. The immediate organisation of the provision of general education in the state
educational organisations of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation falls within the sphere
of responsibility of the state authorities of such constituent entities.
10. The capacity of the educational system in different constituent entities of the Russian
Federation to provide education in the native language depends on many circumstances. As the matter
of fact, we are talking here about the practical capacity of individual educational institutions to
support the choice of the legal representatives of students and provide education in the native
language, that is, the availability of teachers with appropriate qualifications, of educational materials
and, most importantly, of students and their legal representatives who have expressed such a desire.
6 Constitution of the Russian Federation, 12 December 1993 (Annex 28), Article 68(2).
7 Law on education in the Russian Federation (Annex 58), part 3 of Article 14.
8 Ibid., part 4 of Article 14.
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11. It is obvious that the situation of specific educational institutions may differ depending
on the number and the place of residence of persons who have specified the native language for
education or study. In relation to different languages these circumstances may vary considerably, also
from one constituent entity to another. Nevertheless, the freedom of choice of the language of
education by students and their legal representatives at the basic, compulsory levels of education is
enshrined in the Law on education in the Russian Federation: “The free choice of the language of
education, the studied native language from among the languages of the peoples of the Russian
Federation, including the Russian language as a native language, the state languages of the republics
of the Russian Federation, shall be based on the applications of parents (legal representatives) of
minor students when the latter are admitted (transferred) into studying the educational programmes
of preschool education and the state accredited educational programmes of primary general and basic
general education”9.
12. For quite understandable and objective reasons, it is impossible to ensure in practice
the unconditional approval of the requests of all those who wish to study in their native language.
There are more than 190 nationalities living in the Russian Federation and it is reasonable to assume
that no educational system in any country in the world is capable of providing education in all the
languages of the peoples living in its territory. Nevertheless, at the federal and regional levels, active
efforts are being made to provide the maximum number of students with the opportunity to at least
study their native language in full, should education in it appear to be not available to a particular
student. For instance, in accordance with the orders of the Ministry of Education and Science of the
Russian Federation of 6 October 2009 No. 373 and of 17 December 2010 No. 1897 (as amended in
2015), the subject areas “Native Language and Literary Reading in the Native Language” and “Native
Language and Literature” are compulsory for studying in schools10. The choice of the native language
for studying the above disciplines is also carried out on a voluntary basis by the parents of students
or by their legal representatives.
9 Federal Law No. 317-FZ “On introducing amendments into Articles 11 and 14 of the Federal Law ‘On education in the
Russian Federation’”, 3 August 2018 (Annex 113), para. 2(b).
10 Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation No. 373 “On approval and implementation
of the Federal State Educational Standard of primary general education”, 6 October 2009 (Annex 52), with amendments
and additions of 3 December 2015 No. 1576, paras. 12.2 and 19.3; Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of the
Russian Federation No. 1897 “On approval of the Federal State Educational Standard of basic general education”, 17
December 2010 (Annex 55), with amendments and additions of 31 December 2015 No. 1577, paras. 11.2 and 18.3.
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III. The policy of the Republic of Crimea in the field of education in the native
language
13. In accordance with Article 3 of the Law of the Republic of Crimea of 6 July 2015
No. 131-ZRK/2015 “On education in the Republic of Crimea” (hereinafter – “Law on education in
the Republic of Crimea”), “protection and development of ethno-cultural peculiarities and traditions
of the peoples living in the territory of the Republic of Crimea, provision for [their] linguistic needs”
constitute the principle of the state policy in the field of education in the Republic of Crimea11.
14. In the Republic of Crimea, the rights of citizens to receive generally accessible and
free general education in the languages of the peoples of the Russian Federation living in the Republic
of Crimea, including in Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar, as well as to the study these languages
in various formats at all levels of general education – as a separate subject, on an extracurricular basis,
in the framework of after-school activities – are enshrined in the law12. The Law on education in the
Republic of Crimea stipulates that the implementation of these rights is ensured through the
establishment of the necessary number of relevant organisations, classes and groups as well as the
conditions for their operation13.
15. In accordance with the principles of general education provision and language policy
in the Republic of Crimea, the authorities of the Republic represented by the Council of Ministers
and the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea take measures to ensure
all necessary conditions for the implementation of the rights of residents of Crimea, regardless of
their national, linguistic and ethnic identity, to education in the native language. For this purpose,
funds from the budget of the Republic of Crimea are being allocated for the publication of textbooks
and staff training and the development of educational programmes in the native languages of the
peoples of Russia living in the territory of the Republic of Crimea is being carried out. In Crimea, the
training of specialists in the training programmes “Crimean Tatar Language and Literature” and the
“Ukrainian Language and Literature” continues to be provided at two universities: the Fevzi Yakubov
Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University and the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University.
16. Through shaping and implementing the language policy in the field of education in
accordance with the general provisions in force in the Russian Federation, the competent authorities
of the Republic of Crimea have developed an optimal model for the implementation of the
11 Law of the Republic of Crimea No. 131-ZRK/2015 “On education in the Republic of Crimea”, 6 July 2015 (Annex
91), part 4 of Article 3.
12 Ibid., part 2 of Article 11.
13 Ibid.
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constitutional right of citizens to education with due regard for the rights of citizens to use and study
their native language.
17. According to this model, teaching in the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages and
studying of them are implemented in the educational institutions in the territory of the Republic of
Crimea on applications of the parents (legal representatives) of students upon the admission (transfer)
to follow the educational programmes of preschool education and the state accredited educational
programmes of primary general and basic general education on the basis of voluntary, free and
informed choice.
18. Moreover, the peoples of the Russian Federation living in the Republic of Crimea
exercise the right to study other native languages, in particular, Armenian, Bulgarian, Greek and
German.
19. In order to ensure the most extensive opportunities for the implementation of the rights
of citizens to education in their native language in the Republic of Crimea, the provision of education
in the native language (or its study) is organised in various forms: instruction in the native language
(for the state languages of the Republic); the study of the native language as an independent subject
within the framework of the compulsory programme or as part of extracurricular (learning groups)
activities.
20. The language in which the education is being carried out in a particular educational
organisation is established by the local regulations of the organisation with due account of linguistic
needs of the students. The local regulations can envisage two or all three state languages of the
Republic of Crimea, in which the education is carried out in a particular educational institution.
IV. Specific measures for the implementation of the right of citizens to study in their
native language in the Republic of Crimea
21. Given the historically formed national and ethnic composition of the population of the
Crimean peninsula, in the period from 1991 to 2014, most of the students of Crimean schools received
education in the Russian language. At the moment of the reunification of Crimea with Russia, 158,174
students were studying in the Russian language, which accounted for 89.7% of the total number of
students, whereas 5,551 (3.1%) and 12,694 (7.2%) were studying in the other most common
languages in Crimea – in Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian respectively. These figures almost coincide
with those presented by the Ukrainian side, that is, in 2014, in Crimea, 89.32% of students studied in
the Russian language, 3.11% of students – in the Crimean Tatar language and 7.41% of students – in
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the Ukrainian language14. In 2013/2014 academic year, only 7 schools with instruction in the
Ukrainian language and 15 schools with instruction in the Crimean Tatar language operated in
Crimea, while, in total, 571 schools functioned in Crimea at that time. These figures indicate that
during the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine education in the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian
languages was not very developed in Crimea, this was especially true of the Ukrainian language. With
regard to the study of the Ukrainian language as a separate subject, during that period, its study, in
the light of the fact that the Ukrainian language was the only state language in the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea, was compulsory for all students in all general educational institutions.
22. After the reunification of Crimea with the Russian Federation, the primary task of the
authorities of the Republic of Crimea in charge of education was to ensure, on the one hand, the
continuity of the educational process and, on the other, its effective and smooth adaptation to the
standards in force throughout the entire territory of Russia. It should be noted that the staff
composition of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea changed
insignificantly after March 2014, which allowed to ensure continuity in the leadership of the
republican educational system.
23. The issue of the continuity of education has been resolved as follows. In accordance
with Articles 6 and 23 of the Federal Constitutional Law of 21 March 2014 No. 6-FKZ “On the
admission of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation and the formation of new constituent
entities within the Russian Federation − the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol”,
normative legal acts of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea shall be valid in the territory of the
Republic of Crimea until the end of the transition period, or until the adoption of relevant normative
legal act of the Russian Federation and (or) normative legal act of the Republic of Crimea15.
Consequently, the completion of the 2013/2014 academic year was carried out according to the
programmes and using the textbooks of the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine. It was decided
to start education in the new 2014/2015 academic year already in accordance with the rules in force
in Russia and, if possible, using textbooks published in Russia.
24. In the spring of 2014, every Crimean school conducted meetings for the parents,
surveys of the parents’ opinions and questionnaires, the results of which were being sent to the
republican Ministry of Education. This is why, already by the end of the 2013/2014 academic year,
we understood that the Ukrainian language would no longer be studied in the same amount as before
and that, having become able to choose to study their native language, students and their parents
14 Witness Statement of A. Shchekun, 4 June 2018 (Annex 13 to UM), para. 31.
15 Federal Constitutional Law No. 6-FKZ “On the admission of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation and
the formation of new constituent entities within the Russian Federation - the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of
Sevastopol”, 21 March 2014 (Annex 61), Articles 6 and 23.
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would give preference to the Russian language. It was clear that the workload of the teachers of the
Russian language and literature would increase significantly, while the workload of the teachers of
the Ukrainian language and literature would only be reduced. In this connection, a programme of
professional retraining for the teachers of the Ukrainian language and literature was implemented on
the basis of the State Budgetary Educational Institution of Additional Education of the Republic of
Crimea “Crimean Republican Institute of Post-Diploma Pedagogical Education” at the expense of the
republican budget. Thanks to this, the teachers of the Ukrainian language were able to retain their
jobs, teaching both the Ukrainian and Russian languages in schools.
25. Besides, in the light of the integration of the educational system of the Republic of
Crimea into the educational system of the Russian Federation, the teachers, also of some other
disciplines, were in need of additional training to continue to work in their specialties. Many
educational institutions of Crimea implemented programmes that revealed the specific aspects of
working in the context of the transition to the federal state educational standards.
26. The transfer of the educational institutions to the federal state educational standards
required the preparation and publication of a large volume of new educational materials in the
Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages. We realised that it would be impossible to prepare and
publish the new textbooks in the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages over the course of a few
months. In this regard, it was decided to continue using, on a temporary basis, the textbooks of the
period before 2014 until the relevant programmes, textbooks and guides are prepared and published16.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea has organised and
conducted the work on the preparation, translation, editing, publication and delivery of educational
materials (textbooks, methodical guides for teachers, readers, programmes, dictionaries) in the
Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages. For instance, 63 titles of educational materials were prepared
and published in 2015-2016, in 2017 – 36 titles of educational materials (supplied to Crimean
educational institutions in 2018), in 2018 – 15 titles of educational materials (supplied to Crimean
educational institutions in 2019)17. Today, Crimean schools teach in the Crimean Tatar language
using the newly translated textbooks in all the subjects. The textbooks on the Ukrainian language and
literature for all grades at the level of primary general education have been prepared in the Ukrainian
language and delivered to schools. Work is currently underway to prepare the textbooks on the
Ukrainian language and literature for grades at the level of basic general education.
16 Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea, Letter No. 0114/2911 on the use of textbooks on
the Crimean Tatar language and literature and Ukrainian language and literature published in Ukraine, 18 August 2016
(Annex 467).
17 See Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea official website, Section “State and other
languages of the Republic of Crimea”, https://monm.rk.gov.ru/ru/structure/210 (Annex 500).
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27. In 2015, the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea, in
accordance with the federal state educational standards (FSES) of preschool, primary general, basic
general and secondary general education, drew up four Exemplary basic general educational
programmes for the subjects: 1) “The Crimean Tatar language (native). Crimean Tatar literature”,
2) “The Ukrainian language (native). Ukrainian literature”, 3) “The Crimean Tatar language (not
native)” and 4) “The Ukrainian language (not native)”. The said programmes have been approved by
the Federal Educational and Methodical Association for General Education and are included in the
register of programmes of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
Therefore, every teacher, on the basis of the Exemplary basic general educational programme, had
the opportunity to draw up his own work programme for the relevant subject.
28. Since the 2014/2015 academic year, education in the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar
languages as well as the study of native languages has been carried out in the educational
organisations of Crimea on the basis of the applications of the parents (legal representatives). Based
on the results of such a free and voluntary choice, each educational organisation by means of its local
normative regulations determines the language, or the languages, of education for the academic year.
29. The Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea in
coordination with the Chairman of the Civic Chamber of the Republic of Crimea G.A. Ioffe has
developed a Roadmap that establishes the procedure for the parents (legal representatives) of students
to choose the language of education for their children from among the state languages of the Republic
of Crimea and also to choose the language of study from among the languages of the peoples of the
Russian Federation living in the Republic of Crimea18. A sample application for the choice of the
language of education/study is offered. Since then, the Roadmap has been used by the education
management authorities of municipal districts and urban districts of the Republic of Crimea.
30. The practice of collecting the applications was also in effect before 2014, but, after the
reunification of Crimea with Russia, this procedure has been regulated and streamlined throughout
the entire territory of the Republic of Crimea. Every year, in the period from February to March,
general educational institutions hold meetings for the parents, also on the issues of choosing the
language of education for both the future first-graders and the students of 4th and 9th grades. Samples
applications, as well as the practical information on the implementation of the constitutional right of
citizens to choose the language of education, are published on the official website of the Ministry of
Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea. On the basis of these applications, it is
being decided whether the capacity available is sufficient to meet the demand concerned and, if not,
18 Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea, Letter No. 01-14/4442 “On the roadmap for
choosing the instruction (studying) language in the educational institutions of the Republic of Crimea”, 28 December
2017 (Annex 479).
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whether it is possible to take other measures. For instance, it can be education in the native language
or the study of the native language as a subject. If the organisation of the education in the Crimean
Tatar or Ukrainian language is difficult in the given conditions, for example, when one application is
received in a small settlement, then the educational institutions try to offer other options. For example,
children of different ages are being united in one class (for example, students of 1, 2 or 3, 4 grades),
but each student studies his native language in accordance with the corresponding programme.
31. To fully inform the population of the Republic of the rights and opportunities in the
field of education in the native language or the study of the native language, the Ministry of
Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea has set up the appropriate section “State and
other languages of the Republic of Crimea”19 on its website, which contains a number of practical
documents for students and their parents, including memos on the legal regulation of education in
native languages, a list of general educational organisations that provide education in the state
languages of the Republic, exemplary programmes of education in the state languages of the
Republic, etc.
32. During my tenure as the Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Youth of the
Republic of Crimea, the republican Ministry of Education did not have any facts of any serious
violations or infringement of the rights of students and their parents (legal representatives) in the
educational organisations of Crimea. Several times we received applications from citizens regarding
the issues of the implementation of the right to receive education in the state languages of the Republic
of Crimea and to study native languages. The Ministry, together with the education management
authorities of municipal districts and urban districts of the Republic of Crimea, promptly addressed
such issues, creating the necessary conditions for the implementation of the rights of students to
receive education in their native language and to study their native language. Therefore, work was
constantly carried out to meet the existing demand for study in and of the native language.
V. Conclusion
33. Today, according to the information from the official website of the Ministry of
Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea, one school with the Ukrainian language of
instruction and 16 schools with the Crimean Tatar language of instruction operate in Crimea. In a
number of Crimean schools, the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages are studied as separate
subjects. The increase in the number of schools with instruction in the Crimean Tatar language and
accordingly in the number of students studying in the Crimean Tatar language testifies to the complete
19 Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea official website, Section “State and other
languages of the Republic of Crimea”, https://monm.rk.gov.ru/ru/structure/210 (Annex 500).
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absence of infringement of the rights of Crimean Tatars to receive education in their native language
and, even more so, to the absence of any discrimination of the Crimean Tatar people in the field of
education in Crimea.
34. Also, there are no forms of discrimination against Ukrainians in the field of education.
The significant reduction in the students receiving education in the Ukrainian language can be caused
by various reasons, but in my opinion, the main reason is the lack of need among Crimeans for their
children to receive education in the Ukrainian language. I would like to note that, until 2014, the
parents associated education in the Ukrainian language in the organisations of general education in
the territory of Crimea with the prospects of continuing education of their children in the higher
educational institutions located in the territory of Ukraine (the cities of Kiev, Lvov, Kharkov, etc.,
where education was carried out in the Ukrainian language), as well as with certain career
opportunities in the state service subject to a fairly good command of the state (Ukrainian) language.
Even so, the number of those studying in the Ukrainian language was only 12,694 people or slightly
more than 7% of the total number of students in the 2013/2014 academic year. Today, there is no
such need for education in the Ukrainian language, so students and their parents choose the Russian
language because they associate their future with Russia.
35. On a separate note, I would like to point out that the Ministry of Education, Science
and Youth of the Republic of Crimea has worked and, as far as I know, continues to work to ensure
that everyone who wants to study the native language or to receive education in it could fulfil this
opportunity. Both the Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian languages enjoy the protection of the law in the
Republic of Crimea. Ensuring the conditions for education in both languages is the official task of
the republican authorities. Neither of them is given preference over the other. At the same time, none
of them is imposed on anyone without their desire. Therefore, the executive state authorities cannot
and should not try to increase the number of students in the Ukrainian language – if Crimeans
themselves have no such desire (need).
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in the
present witness statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name: Ayder Serverovich Ablyatipov
Date: 17 May 2021
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Annex 14
Witness statement of
19 May 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
19 May 2021
I, , am of Municipal Budget-Funded Cultural
Institution “Yalta Historic and Literature Museum” of Yalta City Municipality of the Republic of
Crimea (hereinafter referred to as “Yalta Historic and Literature Museum”),1 the main building
of which has been located at: 5 Pushkinskaya St., Yalta, since 20 February 2019,2 and hereby state
as follows.
I. Introduction
1. In this witness statement I testify in relation to a number of issues concerning the operation
of a department of the Municipal Budget-Funded Cultural Institution “Yalta Historic and
Literature Museum” – “Lesya Ukrainka Museum” (hereinafter referred to as “Lesya
Ukrainka Museum”) in Yalta and the exhibitions displayed in this museum at various
times. This testimony is based on my personal knowledge of the above matters and the
documents referred to below. Where I make a statement based on some information or belief
I note this in my statement and refer to the source of such information or belief.
2. The information about my education and professional experience is set out in the relevant
annex hereto.3
II. General Information
3. Lesya Ukrainka Museum is an operating department of Yalta Historic and Literature
Museum and the only museum of the Ukrainian writer and playwright Lesya Ukrainka (real
name Larisa Petrovna Kosach-Kvitka) in the Russian Federation. However, there are other
monuments dedicated to the life and work of Lesya Ukrainka among the historical and
cultural monuments of the peoples of the Russian Federation classified as regional cultural
heritage sites, in particular:4
a) The house in which poetess Lesya Ukrainka lived from October 1907 until May 1908
(6 Lesya Ukrainka St., Yalta, the Republic of Crimea);
1 The official website of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum is https://яилм.рф. This is the upgraded version of the
site made available since 2021; therefore, for the time being it only contains the basic information about the structure
and activity of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum, albeit the content and features of the site are being updated.
2 Between 27 August 2018 and 19 February 2019, I was the head of Literary Memorial House Museum of N.Z.
Biryukov, which is a branch of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum, and I also used to hold other posts in the sphere
of education and culture in earlier periods. The full details are set out in my CV attached as Annex 1283.
3 CV (Annex 1283).
4 Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 627 with extracts from the List of regional
cultural heritage sites located in the Republic of Crimea and the information from the website of the Uniform State
Register of Cultural Heritage Sites (Historical and Cultural Monuments) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation
attached thereto, 20 December 2016 (Annex 106).
Translation
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2
b) P.P. Rozanov's House, where Lesya Ukrainka satyed in March-May 1907 (3 “A”
Pavlenko St., Yalta, the Republic of Crimea);
c) Monument to Lesya Ukrainka (Saki Health Resort Park, Kurortnaya St., Saki, the
Republic of Crimea);
d) Monument to Lesya Ukrainka (sculptor G.N. Kalchenko, architect A.F. Ignaschenko)
(Yekaterininskaya St./Narodniy Lane, Yalta, the Republic of Crimea);
e) Memorial sign in tribute to Lesya Ukrainka (painters S.A. Kirichenko, N.G. Klein,
E.S. Kirichenko) (4km of the bypass road, Yalta, the Republic of Crimea).
4. In 1990s (the Soviet period), Lesya Ukrainka Museum was declared to be a cultural heritage
site “Lesya Ukrainka Museum Late XIX – Early XX centuries” and in 2012 the site was
included in the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine as an architectural and
historical monument called “A House where Ukrainian Poetess Lesya Ukrainka Lived,” late
XIX century – early XX century.5 After the admission of the Republic of Crimea to the
Russian Federation, the said site continued to enjoy state protection6 and was recognized as
a regional cultural heritage site included in the Unified State Register of Cultural Heritage
Sites (Historical and Architectural Monuments) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation
under the name “House where Lesya Ukrainka Lived in 1897 (architect P.K. Terebenev),
late XIX century – early XX century”.7 The Order of the State Committee on Cultural
Heritage Protection of the Republic of Crimea No. 79 of 21 April 2017 also approved the
protected site and boundaries of the regional cultural heritage site – “House where Lesya
Ukrainka Lived in 1897 (architect P.K. Terebenev), late XIX century – early XX century”.8
5. The main building of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum is located in Yalta at 5
Pushkinskaya St., whilst Lesya Ukrainka Museum is located in the building at 8a
Yekaterininskaya St. (formerly Litkens St.) (hereinafter referred to as the “Building”). The
southern part of the Building hosts two departments of Yalta Historic and Literature
Museum, namely: (a) Lesya Ukrainka Museum and (b) “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the
first quarter of XX centuries”.9 The premises of the northern part of the Building (held by
the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum, the balance-sheet holder) were leased to
commercial entities in 2001 and until recently there was a hotel there, however, in 2016 the
5 Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, Register of Local Monuments of Ukraine (Annex 803); Certificate of State Historical
and Cultural Expert Examination of Design Documentation for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage Site of Regional
Significance “House where the Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka lived, late 19th century-early 20th century”, 19
December 2016 (Annex 689)
6 Federal Law No. 9-FZ “On specifics of legal regulation of relations in the field of culture and tourism in connection
with the admission of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation and the formation of new constituent entities
within the Russian Federation - the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol”, 12 February 2015 (Annex
84), Article 2(2).
7 Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 627 with extracts from the List of regional
cultural heritage sites located in the Republic of Crimea and the information from the website of the Uniform State
Register of Cultural Heritage Sites (Historical and Cultural Monuments) of the Peoples of the Russian Federation
attached thereto, 20 December 2016 (Annex 106).
8 Order of the State Сommittee for Cultural Heritage Protection of the Republic of Crimea No. 79, 21 April 2017
(Annex 473).
9 Lesya Ukrainka Museum, Photographs of the monument and general view of the Building (Annex 1208).
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lease agreement was rescinded by Yalta Historic and Literature Museum as described below.
The leased property has been currently vacated by the tenant, which enables us to expand
the area of current and potential display of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum (including
the Lesya Ukrainka Museum) after the restauration of the Building (including all necessary
works) and the said part of the building is adapted for use as additional premises open to the
visitors.
6. Before the exhibition rooms of Lesya Ukrainka Museum were closed in early 2016, as
described below, the permanent collection of Lesya Ukrainka Museum
“Lomikamen/Saxifraga” was located on the second floor of the southern part of the Building,
whilst the first floor of the southern part of the Building housed and continues to house the
department “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first quarter of XX centuries” with the display
called “Pages of Cultural Life of Yalta of Southern Coast in late XIX-early XX centuries”.
This display aims to recreate the everyday life and convey the atmosphere of town’s cultural
life of that time.
7. The display of Lesya Ukrainka Museum has been closed to visitors since 10 February 2016
(due to collapse of the ceiling in the building of Lesya Ukrainka Museum)10 and only some
items of the collection related to life and work of Lesya Ukrainka and other Ukrainian writers
and cultural figures are available to the visitors now. Thus, since early 2017 an addition was
made to the display of the department “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first quarter of XX
centuries” on the first floor of the southern part of the Building titled “Yalta Pages of Lesya
Ukrainka’s Life”, which included some exhibits from “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” display and
other museum items of the collection of Lesya Ukrainka Museum.11 Other items and
museum exhibits can also be accessed at temporary exhibitions and other events related to
life and work of Lesya Ukrainka and other figures of Ukrainian culture that continue to be
held at the premises or with the participation of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum. More
detailed information will be provided in the following paragraphs of my statement.
8. Once the restoration works on the second floor and in other premises of the Building are
over, the work of exhibition rooms of Lesya Ukrainka Museum will be resumed for the
visitors and the display area is to be expanded by using the premises in the northern part of
the Building.
III. History of Lesya Ukrainka Museum and its main displays until 2016
9. The idea to establish Lesya Ukrainka Museum dates back to 1971, Lesya Ukrainka's 100th
birthday anniversary (1871-1913). Thus, a decision was made to establish Lesya Ukrainka
Museum in Yalta as a branch of the Crimean Regional History Museum. In 1971, the second
floor of the building No. 8 on Litkens St. (now Yekaterininskaya St.), the faсade of which
had been decorated with the memorial plate dedicated to Lesya Ukrainka’s stay in that
10 Lesya Ukrainka Museum, Photographs of damaged structures of the Building (Annex 1209). Research and design
documents, Section II, Part IV, Technological Research, Guidelines for Restoration Works, 2016 (Annex 676).
11 Photographs of showcases with some of the exhibits, which have been constantly displayed as an addition titled
“Yalta Pages of Lesya Ukrainka’s Life” to the display of the department “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first
quarter of XX centuries” (Annex 1210).
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building in 1897, was allocated for the establishment of the museum.12 In 1972, a monument
to Lesya Ukrainka was erected in front of the Building (its authors were a people’s painter
of the USSR, laureate of T.G. Shevchenko State Prize of the USSR, sculptor G.N. Kalchenko
and architect A.F. Ignaschenko).13
10. This branch of the Crimean Regional History Museum did not have a display of its own and
after its transfer under the direction of Yalta Regional History Museum (in 1974) as part of
the department subsequently named “Progressive Russian and Ukrainian Literature and
Culture of Yalta of the Pre-revolution Period” a general display of the department was
formed and opened to visitors in December 1977. This display included a section devoted to
Lesya Ukrainka. The said part of the display collection consisted of a recreation of room
where Lesya Ukrainka lived in 1897.
11. In February 1990, Yalta Literature Museum of Lesya Ukrainka as a department was included
in the structure of Yalta State Joint Historic and Literature Museum established on the basis
of Yalta History Museum. On 25 February 1991, to commemorate Lesya Ukrainka’s 120th
birthday anniversary, an anniversary display “Lesya Ukrainka and the Crimea” was opened
as part of the department “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first quarter of XX centuries”
and it was located on the second floor of the building No. 8 on Litkens Street (now
Yekaterininskaya St.) (senior researcher of Lesya Ukrainka Museum S.A. Kocherga was the
author, and artist N.S. Gordich was the author of artistic design and decorator). That display
was dedicated to the Crimean period of Lesya Ukrainka’s life with an image of a seagull and
Lesya Ukrainka’s encounter with the sea as its leitmotif.
12. In 1993, Yalta City Council of Peoples’ Deputies of the Republic of Crimea adopted a
decision to establish Lesya Ukrainka Museum with the status of a department of Yalta Joint
Historic and Literature Museum on the basis of the above display “Lesya Ukrainka and the
Crimea”. That display was subsequently updated and opened on 24 August 2001 under the
name “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” (the concept was created by senior researcher S.A. Kocherga
and artistic design was elaborated by a Yalta artist V.E. Vinogradov). The leitmotif of that
display was an image of a flower commonly called “rockfoil” for its ability to grow in the
harshest mountain environment. Thus, the biography of Lesya Ukrainka states that in the
summer of 1897 Lesya Ukrainka stumbled upon this flower as she was going up the Ay Petri
peak in Crimea and that this flower with its flamboyant petals breaking through the rocks
made an impression on the poet and subsequently served as a metaphor of life and work of
Lesya Ukrainka herself, who, despite her grave illness (tuberculosis) and constant battle with
it, continued moving forward on her artistic path.
12 Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Yalta City Council of Workers' Deputies No. 372, 18 May 1954
(Annex 766), whereby in connection with the celebration of 300th anniversary of Ukraine’s reunification with Russia
and to perpetuate the memory of stay of Ukrainian poets and writers in Crimea, Severnaya Street, where Lesya
Ukrainka lived in building No.6 in 1908, was renamed “Lesya Ukrainka Street”; a memorial plate was installed on
building No. 10 on Litkens Street; Mayskaya Street, on which the Ukrainian poet Rudansky lived and died in 1873,
was renamed “Rudansky Street”, and Simeiz library of the Culture Department of Yalta City Executive Committee
was named after Kotsyubinsky (Ukrainian writer and public figure), among others.
13 Lesya Ukrainka Museum, Photographs of the monument and general view of the Building (Annex 1208).
Annex 14
5
IV. Activity of Lesya Ukrainka Museum and composition of display between March 2014
and February 2016
13. In 2014, the activity of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum was aimed at the museum's
transition into the legal framework of the Russian Federation in connection with the
inclusion of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation. Special attention was paid to
classification and systematization of museum’s collections for the purposes of cataloging
thereof, introduction of information technologies and expansion of publishing activity. Such
transitional period did not affect visitors’ access to the museum’s displays and in the first
year (2014) the museum was visited by 19,980 people, 435 guided tours were given, 60 mass
events were held and 34 lectures took place. The notable events held in 2014 include, in
particular, those directly related to various aspects of Ukrainian history and culture. For
example, the event dedicated to the 150th birthday anniversary of M.M. Kotsyubinsky and
200th birthday anniversary of T.G. Shevchenko (well-known Ukrainian writers and public
figures), an exhibition “And a Soul Speaks to a Soul” to commemorate the 100th birthday
anniversary of the people’s artist of Ukraine Ya.A. Basov.14
14. Between March 2014 and February 2016 (until the premises of the second floor of the
Building were completely closed), the “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” display of Lesya Ukrainka
Museum continued to function until one of the exhibition rooms was closed down on 20
January 2016 due to emergency state of the premises (a roof leakage and peeling plastering
of the ceiling were found, the cracks in the plastering broke through previously installed
beacons and increased in size) and after the collapse of the ceiling on 10 February 2016 the
entire second floor was closed.15
15. Before its closure, “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” display comprised over 300 museum items.
These included:
a) lifetime publications of works by Lesya Ukrainka;
b) things, photographs that belonged to her family;
c) photographs from the personal archive of winemaker N.S. Okhremenko who took
classes from Lesya Ukrainka as a child;
d) pre-revolutionary photographs and postcards with views of Yalta and other Crimean
towns visited by Lesya Ukrainka;
e) lifetime publications of other Ukrainian writers of late XIX-early XX centuries
connected with Lesya Ukrainka’s work;
f) pre-revolutionary periodical publications where Lesya Ukrainka’s works were
published;
g) anniversary editions of works, gramophone records with Lesya Ukrainka’s voice
(recordings of 1908-1909);
h) Ukrainian national costumes, embroidery of XIX-early XX centuries;
i) typical items and furnishings of a Yalta mansion in early XX century;
14 Analytical information on the Operation and Material and Technical Facilities of Yalta Historic and Literature
Museum for 2014, 14 January 2015 (Annex 670).
15 Order of the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum No. 9 “On Closure of Access to Visitors”, 15 January 2016
(Annex 680); Order No. 12 “On closure of the Department ‘Lesya Ukrainka Museum’ of Municipal Budget-Funded
Cultural Institution ‘Lesya Ukrainka Museum’”, 8 February 2016 (Annex 684); Instruction of the occupational safety
and health engineer No. 4, 15 January 2016 (Annex 681).
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j) copies of manuscripts of works and letters by Lesya Ukrainka.
16. A part of the “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” display of Lesya Ukrainka Museum was dedicated to
other Ukrainian writers and cultural figures who lived in Yalta at different times, including
O.Yu. Kobylyanskaya, M.M. Kotsyubinsky, S.V. Rudansky, T.G. Shevchenko, I.Ya.
Franko, etc.
17. Between March 2014 and February 2016, the opening hours of “Lomikamen/Saxifraga”
display of Lesya Ukrainka Museum remained unchanged and were even extended in high
season. Thus, in high season in 2012 (from 1 July 2012 until 15 September 2012), the Lesya
Ukrainka Museum was open from 11 a.m to 7 p.m. and closed on Mondays,16 in 2013 (from
15 May 2013 until 1 July 2013), the opening hours were changed to 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and
the museum was closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.17 In 2014, the opening hours during high
season were changed to 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. with the museum being closed on Mondays and
Tuesdays (as of June 2014),18 whilst in 2015 (from 1 July until 31 August 2015) only one
day off per week – Monday – was envisaged and opening hours were from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
and from 12 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays.19
18. Between 2014 and February 2016, temporary exhibitions and other events dedicated to life
and work of Lesya Ukrainka and other Ukrainian cultural figures were constantly held at the
premises of Lesya Ukrainka Museum.
V. Repair and restauration works at Lesya Ukrainka Museum before 2016 and after
19. As I have said, the premises of Lesya Ukrainka Museum are located in the old Building. The
mansion transformed into the Building as a result of two construction periods. Initially, in
1884-1886, the southern part of the Building was constructed. That part of the Building was
commissioned by the Councillor of State, baron Alexander Genrikhovich Zhomini based on
the design by a local architect P.K. Terebenev, to be used as private residence. However,
immediately after completion of the construction the mansion was transferred to a Yalta
merchant E.F. Lischinskaya who owned it approximately until 1917. It was in the annex to
the said house and later in E.F. Lischinskaya’s house proper that Lesya Ukrainka rented a
room for a few months in 1897.
20. In 1901, Ms Lischinskaya added an extension to the house from the northern side based on
design by architect N.G. Tarasov. Two parts of the Building were united by an open grand
staircase. At present, both parts of the Building are located at the same address: 8a
Yekaterininskaya Street. Initially, only the second floor of the southern part of the Building
was allocated for Lesya Ukrainka Museum and the premises of the northern part of the
16 Order of the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum No. 32 “On change of opening hours for the duration of high
season”, 25 June 2012 (Annex 657).
17 Order of the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum No. 19 “On opening hours of displays in May-June 2013”, 24
April 2013 (Annex 659).
18 Order of the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum No. 33 “On opening hours of displays in June 2014”, 26 May
2014 (Annex 664); Order of the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum No. 44 “On opening hours of displays during
the high season”, 24 June 2014 (Annex 665).
19 Order of the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum No. 52 “On opening hours of museum displays in July-August
2015”, 25 June 2015 (Annex 672).
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Building (359.1 sq.m. approx.) were leased to legal entities of LLC “Technoprom Ltd”
(Travel Planet LLC since 2011) in 2001 to be used as lounge rooms. The leased premises
have now been vacated by the tenant due to rescission of the lease agreement by the landlord,
which allows expanding the area of active and planned display of Yalta Historic and
Literature Museum (including that of Lesya Ukrainka Museum) once the construction work
is over and that part of the Building is adjusted for use as additional museum premises. As I
noted above, the northern part of the Building, just like the premises of Lesya Ukrainka
Museum (second floor of the southern part of the Building), remains closed to visitors.
21. Given the century-old history of the Building, its technical condition has to be under
permanent control. However, as the experts who conducted the assessment of design
documents in 2016 established, the building had only few capital repairs throughout the XX
century (in 1929, 1954-1956 and in 1991). In particular, the experts indicated that “[T]he
repairs mostly concerned the design of partition walls and restrooms, blocking or expanding
doorways. The interior decor, save for some elements (decorative moldings), has been
lost”.20
22. As far as I am aware, no complex emergency or repair and restoration works were carried
out in the Building in 1991-2004, only minor repairs that did not affect the supporting
structures or constructive elements, roofing, walls, etc. As far as I know, some damage to
the indoor finish of Lesya Ukrainka Museum was recorded already in that period (including
cracks in the ceiling and unsatisfactory state of the balcony on the second floor), which in
absence of any repairs resulted in further substantial destruction of the Building’s premises,
as detailed below.
23. In the period in question, numerous appeals were made to the Ukrainian authorities by Lesya
Ukrainka Museum and other persons in relation to the decaying state of the Building and the
need for repair and restoration works. At the same time, regardless of the assurances of
planned capital repair, such repair work has never been done. The following documents can
be used as examples of said appeals:
a) Letter from the Head of National Writers’ Union of Ukraine, people’s deputy of
Ukraine V. Yavorovsky of 6 September 2005 No. 502/01-12 to the Head of the Council
of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea wherein, in addition to other
statements related to dismissal of various appeals to the Government of the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea with regard to the establishment of Stepan
Rudansky21 museum, cessation of existence of M. Kotsyubinsky’s22 memorial room
in Simeiz urban-type settlement since 2000, the issue of poor technical condition of
the Building hosting Lesya Ukrainka Museum and the need for reconstruction of the
Building was also raised; 23
20 Certificate of State Historical and Cultural Expert Examination of Design Documentation for the Preservation of
Cultural Heritage Site of Regional Significance “House where the Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka lived, late 19th
century-early 20th century”, 19 December 2016 (Annex 689), para 2.1. of section IV.
21 Stepan Vasilyevich Rudansky – Ukrainian poet, translator and playwright.
22 Mikhail Mikhailovich Kotsyubinsky – Ukrainian writer, public figure, a classic of the Ukrainian literature.
23 Letter to the Head of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea No. 502/01-12, 6 September
2005 (Annex 1240).
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b) Letter from the head of Yalta Society “Prosvita”, head of Yalta city non-governmental
organization “Union of the Ukrainian Women” and head of the Spiritual and
Educational Information Centre to the Mayor of Yalta City of 14 March 2007
regarding the emergency state of the Building hosting Lesya Ukrainka Museum and
failure to conduct the promised repair and restauration works; 24
c) Letter from the Chairman of the Congress, Coordination Council of the Ukrainians of
South of Crimea to the Mayor of Yalta of 11 October 2010 stating, with reference to
previous applications and responses from the Ukrainian authorities (annexed thereto)
that the plans to expand the display of Lesya Ukrainka Museum by using the part of
the Building under the letter “B” (i.e. northern part of the Building) and to conduct
repairs of the Building have never been put into effect.25
24. Moreover, the situation with the decay of the Building and the need for repair and
restauration works has been repeatedly brought up in the Ukrainian press. Thus, in 2012, the
Ukrainian newspaper “The Day” in its article titled “Lesya's house is being destroyed!
Selective Repairs at the Poet’s Yalta Museum Were Last Made 27 Years Ago” with
reference to an interview with Alexandra Visich, the then director of Lesya Ukrainka
Museum, it was said that the issue regarding the poor technical state of the Building and the
need for repairs was brought up back in 2005. The article went on to say that selective repairs
were last held 27 years ago, notwithstanding the significant age of the building proper (126
years).26 The newspaper article also mentions that as at early 2012 no restauration works
were carried out in the building of Lesya Ukrainka Museum pursuant to the Decree of
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of 21 October 2010 No. 2633-VI “On the celebration of 140th
birthday anniversary of the distinguished Ukrainian poetess and public figure Lesya
Ukrainka (Larisa Petrivna Kosach-Kvitka)”.27
25. The staff of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum made several records regarding
destruction of certain parts and elements of structure of the second floor of the southern part
of the Building where Lesya Ukrainka Museum is located. Thus, on 1 November 2011,
special beacons were installed near the web-like cracks that formed on the ceiling.28 On 19
April 2013, the plastering of the ceiling over the grand staircase leading to the second floor
of the Building and Lesya Ukrainka Museum fell down as a result of these previously found
cracks.29 On 17 May 2013, it was recorded that the size of the ceiling plastering over the
grand staircase that fell from the height of approximately 6 m was 1 m х 0.8 m,30 and on 2
July 2013 it was established that the roofing in that area leaked and water was falling down
24 Letter to the Mayor of Yalta, 14 March 2007 (Annex 1241).
25 Letter to the Mayor of Yalta, 11 October 2010 (Annex 1242).
26 Den, “Lesya’s house is being destroyed! Selective repairs at the poet’s Yalta Museum were last made 27 years ago”,
No. 49 (3692), 21 March 2012 (Annex 880).
27 Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine No. 2633-VI, 21 October 2010 (Annex 779).
28 Certificate No. 12 on the date of installation of beacons in Lesya Ukrainka Museum, 1 November 2011 (Annex
656).
29 Certificate No. 19 on inspection of labour safety at the second stage of operative control, 19 April 2013 (Annex
658).
30 Certificate No. 20 on inspection of labour safety at the second stage of operative control, 17 May 2013 (Annex 660).
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on the stairs of the staircase leading to Lesya Ukrainka Museum, which is yet another
confirmation of substantial damage of the Building’s roof.31
26. The damage of the Building recoded in 2011 and 2013 was not eliminated, which resulted
in further destruction of the premises of Lesya Ukrainka Museum and the staircase leading
thereto. In particular, due to detachment of plastering on the ceiling and cracks that broke
the previously installed beacons and reached the chandelier, which led to a risk of a larger
area of plastering collapsing, on 15 January 2016, the health and safety engineer issued
instruction to close the exhibition room No. 2 of Lesya Ukrainka Museum and transfer all
items to the museum depository of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum for storage as well
as to close all entries to the said room.32 In accordance with the said instruction and due to
the emergency situation in exhibition room No. 2, the said room was closed to visits by the
visitors and staff from 20 January 2016.33 Later, on 8 February 2016, an inrush (collapse of
plastering and part of the ceiling construction) of about 2.0 m*2.5 m was detected in display
room No. 2 and hence, on 10 February 2016, an order was issued to close the second floor
of the Building where the “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” display of Lesya Ukrainka Museum was
located in order to ensure safety of staff and visitors.34 According to the analysis set out in
the research and design documents, such collapse was caused by the following:
31 Certificate No. 22 on inspection of labour safety at the second stage of operative control, 02 July 2013 (Annex 661).
32 Instruction of the occupational safety and health engineer No. 4, 15 January 2016 (Annex 681).
33 Order of the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum No. 9 “On Closure of Access to Visitors”, 15 January 2016
(Annex 680).
34 Order No. 12 “On closure of the Department ‘Lesya Ukrainka Museum’ of Municipal Budget-Funded Cultural
Institution ‘Lesya Ukrainka Museum’”, 8 February 2016 (Annex 684).
Fig. 1.and fig. 2. Collapse of a fragment of the ceiling over the
staircase leading to Lesya Ukrainka Museum (appeared in 2013)
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“There is a collapse of a small area of the ceiling in a room on the second-floor. It is due to
the previous roof leakage, which resulted in large areas being damaged by rot and fungus.
The structures over the second floor need to be examined further.
Due to the large area of fungosity, it is recommended to replace the ceiling of the second
floor and recreate the ceiling decor similar to that preserved”.35
Fig. 3. Collapse of the ceiling of an exhibition room
of Lesya Ukrainka Museum (the photograph was
taken in February 2016 when the collapse occurred).
Fig. 4. Collapse of the ceiling of an exhibition room
of Lesya Ukrainka Museum (the photograph was
taken in March 2021).
27. According to the information obtained as a result of comprehensive scientific research, I
understand that the technical condition of some structures of the Building is partially
functional (such as the condition of the foundation, external and internal walls, etc.) and
some of the structures are in emergency (for example, the covering of the second floor),
unacceptable and/or close to emergency state (for instance, the condition of the ceiling of
the first floor, that of some staircases).36
28. All the exhibits of the display were transferred to the museum depository of Yalta Historic
and Literature Museum. The museum depositary is located in the premises of Yalta Historic
Literature Museum specifically allocated for that and are equipped with a special security
system and fire alarm. Only curators of the relevant category of museum items have access
to the depository.
35 Lesya Ukrainka Museum, Photographs of damaged structures of the Building (Annex 1209). Research and design
documents, Section II, Part IV, Technological Research, Guidelines for Restoration Works, 2016 (Annex 676).
36 Certificate of State Historical and Cultural Expert Examination of Design Documentation for the Preservation of
Cultural Heritage Site of Regional Significance “House where the Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka lived, late 19th
century-early 20th century”, 19 December 2016 (Annex 689), para 2.4 of Section IV.
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11
29. Therefore, the closing down of “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” display of Lesya Ukrainka Museum
was due to its location on the second floor of the southern part of the Building, right under
the roof that began collapsing due to the lack of capital repairs in more than 25 years.
30. In late 2016, when the necessary approvals were obtained, with the support of Yalta City
Administration and using the funds allocated from the local budget (of approximately 11
million Roubles), design estimate documents for restauration of the Building were
elaborated for inclusion in the relevant federal target programme. The design estimate
documents elaborated took into account the additional area of the Building (its northern part)
which was transferred under full control of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum after
rescission of lease contract. Thus, the historic and cultural value of the memorial Building
has been restored and, at present, the area that can be effectively used for visiting the museum
by its visitors and employees has increased to 771.2 sq.m. I would also like to add that once
the restauration works are over, the renewal and expansion of the display of Lesya Ukrainka
Museum are planned by making use of certain areas of the northern part of the Building.
31. The approvals of measures aimed at conducting restauration works in the Building and
raising funds are currently being obtained. According to the design estimate documents
elaborated, the Building and the adjacent territory require major architectural and design
solutions that comprise multiple repair and restoration works in the Building, including
restoration of operative condition of structures of the Building, restoration of Building’s
facades and interior, arrangement of utility systems, landscaping of the land plot (territory
of the monument) and architectural lighting of the facades and the territory. The
implementation of this project requires allocation of substantial funding from the budget of
the Republic of Crimea.37 Thus, the estimate value according to the report following an
expert examination calculated as at the fourth quarter of 2020 amounts to approximately 139
million Roubles.
32. Given the substantial amount of required funding, these works were included in the Plan of
Capital Repairs of the Republic of Crimea for 2021-2023 and the commencement of
restoration works in the Building is scheduled for 2023.38
VI. Work of Lesya Ukrainka Museum after closure of display in 2016
33. “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” display of Lesya Ukrainka Museum has been completely closed
since February 2016 due to the unsatisfactory technical condition and emergency state of
some premises on the second floor of the Building and the staircase leading there. The
premises of the first floor of the southern part of the Building have been and remain open to
visitors.
37 Certificate of State Historical and Cultural Expert Examination of Design Documentation for the Preservation of
Cultural Heritage Site of Regional Significance “House where the Ukrainian poetess Lesya Ukrainka lived, late 19th
century-early 20th century”, 19 December 2016 (Annex 689), para 5.3-5.8 of Section V.
38 Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Crimea, Letter to the Administration of the City of Yalta, No. 9256/22-07/1,
30 December 2020 (Annex 638).
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34. As I stated above, following the shutdown of the premises of Lesya Ukrainka Museum, all
items of “Lomikamen/Saxifraga” display were moved to the depositary of Yalta Historic and
Literature Museum.
35. At the same time, visitors are granted access to certain items of “Lomikamen/Saxifraga”
display and other museum exhibits telling about Lesya Ukrainka’s life and stay on the
Southern Coast of Crimea as well as those of poet and first town doctor of Yalta – Stepan
Rudansky, writer Mikhail Kotsyubinsky as an addition titled “Yalta Pages of Lesya
Ukrainka’s Life” to the display of the department “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first
quarter of XX centuries” as described in detail in paras 6 and 7 above. Given that the area of
the department “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first quarter of XX centuries” is
approximately 142 sq.m. (as compared to the floor area of Lesya Ukrainka Museum of 147
sq.m.), demonstrating a large number of items from Lesya Ukrainka Museum did not appear
possible. However, since early 2017, two showcases with temporary closed display items
and other objects have been on constant display in one of the exhibition rooms of the
department “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first quarter of XX centuries”.39
Fig. 5. Showcased exhibits and items from the collection of Lesya Ukrainka Museum
36. Moreover, the access to other items from the museum depository related to Lesya Ukrainka
Museum is ensured by means of temporary exhibitions and lectures on the basis of display
of “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first quarter of XX centuries” department and other
mass cultural and educational events related to life and work of Lesya Ukrainka and other
figures of Ukrainian culture, which have been organized and continue to be held after the
temporary closure of display of Lesya Ukrainka Museum both using the museum collection
of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum as well as in cooperation with other museums in
Crimea. An illustration of this is the recent temporary exhibition “The Forest Song of Lesya
Ukrainka” held to commemorate Lesya Ukrainka’s 150th birthday anniversary and 110th
anniversary of publication of the drama fairy play, which was inaugurated on 25 February
2021 on the first floor of the Building. Forty nine (49) items related to Lesya Ukrainka from
the museum depository, some of which were also included in “Lomikamen/Saxifraga”
display, were provided for the purposes of the said event.40 As an example of temporary
39 Photographs of showcases with some of the exhibits, which have been constantly displayed as an addition titled
“Yalta Pages of Lesya Ukrainka’s Life” to the display of the department “Culture of Yalta in late XIX – the first
quarter of XX centuries” (Annex 1210).
40 Certificates of intra-museum transfer, February 2021 (Annex 743). Photographic materials of the “Seven Strings”
event and information published on the website of the Yalta Historic and Literature Museum, 25 February 2021
Annex 14
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exhibitions held in earlier period and dedicated to the Ukrainian culture and traditions I could
state exhibitions to commemorate T.G. Shevchenko’s 205th birthday anniversary “We hear
you, Kobzare, through the centuries…»,41 that to commemorate the 120th anniversary of
publication of compilation of L. Ukrainka’s works “Thoughts and dreams of Lesya
Ukrainka” in 2019.42
Fig.6 and Fig. 7. Temporary exhibition «The Forest Song of Lesya Ukrainka», 2021
37. Moreover, the examples of other events held since 2016 after the temporary closure of Lesya
Ukrainka Museum and those planned for 2021 include the following:
a) on 25 February (Lesya Ukrainka's birthday) annually, the traditional “Seven Strings”
event is held with the participation of Yalta pupils, students and social organizations.43
This event commemorates Lesya Ukrainka’s birthday anniversary and that of the
opening of the first “Lesya Ukrainka and Crimea” display. As I said earlier, the “Seven
Strings” event and a temporary exhibition “The Forest Song of Lesya Ukrainka” were
held on 25 February of this year to commemorate Lesya Ukrainka’s 150th birthday
anniversary and 110th anniversary of publication of the said fairy-play.44 Moreover, a
number of other events at other institutions in Yalta dedicated to the said anniversaries
related to Lesya Ukrainka’s life and work have been held in 2021;45
(Annex 1157); Programme of the “Seven Strings” event dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Lesya
Ukrainka, 25 February 2021 (Annex 1158).
41 Certificate of intra-museum transfer No. 16, 13 February 2019 (Annex 711)
42 Certificate of intra-museum transfer No. 10, 13 February 2019 (Annex 712); Certificate of intra-museum transfer
No. 11, 13 February 2019 (Annex 713); Certificate of intra-museum transfer No. 12, 15 February 2019 (Annex 715);
Certificate of intra-museum transfer No. 13, 13 February 2019 (Annex 714).
43 For example, Yalta website, “Yalta Historic and Literature Museum hosted the Seven Strings event dedicated to the
145th anniversary of Lesya Ukrainka’s birth”, 01 March 2016 (Annex 948); yalta.bezformata.com, “Seven Strings
event was held in Yalta”, 28 February 2017 (Annex 969); Yalta website, “Yalta hosted the traditional ‘Seven Strings’
event dedicated to the 147th anniversary of Lesya Ukrainka’s birth”, 1 March 2018 (Annex 983); Post in Yalta Historic
and Literature Museum group in VKontakte social network (relating to the Seven Strings Event), 26 February 2019
(Annex 1101); Crimea news, “Yalta celebrated the 149th anniversary of Lesya Ukrainka’s birth”, 26 February 2020
(Annex 1018).
44 Photographic materials of the “Seven Strings” event and information published on the website of the Yalta Historic
and Literature Museum, 25 February 2021 (Annex 1157); Programme of the “Seven Strings” event dedicated to the
150th anniversary of the birth of Lesya Ukrainka, 25 February 2021 (Annex 1158).
45 Resolution of the City Administration of Yalta No. 343-p regarding the preparation and holding of events dedicated
to the 150th anniversary of the birthday of Lesya Ukrainka, 17 February 2021 (Annex 502).
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14
b) in 2016, a tentative concept of the new display related to Lesya Ukrainka’s life and
work – “In the Land of Eternal Radiance” – was written and approved. In that same
year, a concert to commemorate the 90th birthday anniversary of bandura teacher and
researcher of kobzar art of the Crimea and Kuban area and public activist A.F. Nyrko
was held on 23 March 2016.46 I would like to emphasize that in 2016 there were not
many events planned since it was the year of organization and transfer of exhibits of
“Lomikamen/Saxifraga” to the depositary of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum;
c) in 2017-2020, the staff of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum held and/or
participated in organization of events to commemorate anniversaries and
memorable dates related to Ukrainian cultural figures, including:
• the events to commemorate 153rd and 156th birthday anniversaries of the
Ukrainian writer M. Kotsyubinsky on 17 September 2017 and 17
September 2020 accordingly (Simeiz urban-type settlement, M.
Kotsyubinsky Museum) as well as an arts event “Such days can be only
in Crimea” dedicated to M. Kotsyubinsky’s 155th birthday anniversary in
cooperation with M. Kotsyubinsky Museum in Simeiz on 17 September
2019;47
• events dedicated to the 105th and 106th anniversary of M. Kotsyubinsky’s
death (Simeiz urban-type settlement, M. Kotsyubinsky Museum) on 25
April 2018 and 25 April 2019 accordingly (2 Kotsyubinsky St., Simeiz
urban-type settlement);
• laying flowers on S.V. Rudansky’s tomb dedicated to 145th death anniversary
of the poet, Yalta city doctor – 3 May 2018 (Polikurovsky Memorial,
Yalta);48
• laying flowers on S.V. Rudansky’s tomb dedicated to 185th birthday
anniversary of the poet, Yalta city doctor – 6 January 2019 (Polikurovsky
Memorial, Yalta);49
• creation of an online exhibition “the Dolls of the Museum” dedicated to the
International Children’s Day featuring dolls in Ukrainian national costumes,
among others, held on 1-30 June 2020 at the premises of Yalta Historic and
Literature Museum;50
d) lectures were given at educational institutions and social organizations in Yalta
(for instance, “The Southern Coast of Crimea in the Life and Work of Ukrainian
writers in the 19th century”,51 “Mikhail Kotsyubinsky and Crimea” in 2016,52
46 Post in Yalta Historic and Literature Museum group in VKontakte social network, 24 March 2016 (Annex 1058).
47 Post in Yalta Historic and Literature Museum group in VKontakte social network (relating to celebration of
anniversary of M. Kotsyubinsky), 19 September 2019 (Annex 1107).
48 Post in Yalta Historic and Literature Museum group in VKontakte social network, 07 May 2018 (Annex 1087).
49 Crimea news, “Yalta celebrated the 185th anniversary of well-known writer Stepan Rudansky”, 9 January 2019
(Annex 996).
50 Post in Yalta Historic and Literature Museum group in VKontakte social network (relating to the Dolls of Museum
Exhibition), 01 June 2020 (Annex 1128).
51 Certificate of intra-museum transfer No. 97, 17 February 2016 (Annex 687); Certificate of intra-museum transfer
No. 93, 10 February 2016 (Annex 685).
52 Certificate of intra-museum transfer No. 87, 04 February 2016 (Annex 683); Certificate of intra-museum transfer
No. 95, 12 February 2016 (Annex 686).
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“Lesya Ukrainka and Crimea” in 201753); information and popular science articles
were drafted in connection with anniversaries and memorable dates of Ukrainian
cultural figures;
e) since 2016 (just as in 2014-2015), the staff of Lesya Ukrainka Museum have
arranged for review and selection of items related to daily life and biographies of
Yalta residents, Ukrainian culture and ethnography for subsequent addition to the
museum depository of Yalta Historic and Literature Museum in accordance with
the established procedure. The selected items were many and of various types,
including, for example, brochures, books, embroidered towels, clothing and
interior décor items, tableware and other items of the Ukrainian folklore. Thus,
the items received as donations since 2016 included a hand spindle made by
unknown author in 1940s-50s,54 a brochure (Mikhail Kotsyubinsky. A Witch (in
Ukrainian)) issued in 1958,55 shirts, shawls (scarves), curtains, tablecloths,
tableware from various periods in the XX century (including early XX century);56
f) “Lesya Ukrainka’s Yalta Addresses” virtual tour is to be elaborated in 2021 and
other events related to Lesya Ukrainka and other figures of Ukrainian literature
and culture are to be held, including the following related to:57
• Agatangel Krymsky, dedicated to the 150th birthday anniversary of the
writer, translator and Orientalist;
• Pavel Tychina, dedicated to the 130th birthday anniversary of the poet,
sculptor and literary scholar;
• Galina Kalchenko, dedicated to the 95th birthday anniversary of the sculptor,
people’s artist of the Ukrainian SSR;
• Vera Roik, dedicated to the 110th birthday anniversary of the embroiderer,
founder of the Ukrainian folk embroidery school in Crimea;
• Pyotr Panch, dedicated to the 130th birthday anniversary of the writer;
• Philaret Kolessa, dedicated to the 150th birthday anniversary of music
scholar, folklorist, composer, ethnographer and literary scholar;
• Alexander Koniskiy, dedicated to the 185th birthday anniversary of the poet,
writer and public figure;
• Ivan Franko, dedicated to the 165th birthday anniversary of the writer and
public figure;
• Mikhail Dragomanov, dedicated to the 180th birthday anniversary of the
scientist, political writer and public figure.
53 Certificate of intra-museum transfer No. 50, 13 September 2017 (Annex 697); Certificate of intra-museum transfer
No. 52, 19 September 2017 (Annex 698).
54 Museum exhibits acceptance certificate for permanent use No. 44, 23 August 2016 (Annex 688).
55 Museum exhibits acceptance certificate for permanent use No. 3, 15 February 2017 (Annex 694).
56 Museum exhibits acceptance certificate for permanent use No. 30, 17 May 2018 (Annex 706); Museum exhibits
acceptance certificate for permanent use No. 49, 12 July 2019 (Annex 716); Museum exhibits acceptance certificate
for permanent use No. 47, 27 August 2020 (Annex 725).
57 Lesya Ukrainka Museum's Activity Plan for 2021 (Annex 729).
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38. In particular, the information concerning the activity of Lesya Ukrainka Museum after the
closure of display in 2016 and access to certain museum items as at the time of restauration
works can be found in various local publications (such as articles published in Ukrainian in
Krymskiy visnik No. 1, 2020 translated into Russian as “Crimean Reminiscences of Lesya
Ukrainka”,58 in the magazine “Krym syogodni” No. 2, 2020 translated into Russian “Lesya
Ukrainka Museum in Yalta”59).
I hereby confirm that the above information is true to my best knowledge and belief.
Date: 19 May 2021
Full name:
Signature: (signed)
58 Krymskiy visnik, No. 1, 2020 (Annex 1118), p. 4.
59 Krym syogodni, No. 2 (2), 2020 (Annex 1113), pp. 10-11.
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Annex 15
Witness Statement of
19 May 2021
1
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
19 May 2021
I, , am of Kiramet, Limited Liability
Company (“Kiramet”) located at the Republic of Crimea, Simferopol, 4/11 Suvorovsky Descent, hereby
state as follows.
1. Introduction
1. In this witness statement, I will give explanations on a number of issues related to priority
emergency production works at the cultural heritage site of federal significance – “the Khan’s
Palace (16th – 19th centuries): Khan Mosque (1740–1743) (the “Khan Mosque”) which forms part
of the Museum of History and Culture of Crimean Tatars “Khan’s Palace in Bakhchisaray” (the
“Khan’s Palace” or the “Palace”) of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea
“Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve” (the “Museum-
Reserve”). I hereby confirm that this witness statement is based on my own knowledge and
recollection of the events presented in this document and the documents referred to below when I
make relevant statements. Where I make a statement based on any information or belief, I will state
that in my witness statement and cite the source of such information or belief.
2. Information concerning my education and expertise is set out in an annex hereto.1
2. Background
a) Information about Kiramet
3. Kiramet LLC (before 2014, Kiramet private enterprise, of which I was the founder and director at
different times) was incorporated in Crimea in 2007, after which, on or around 8 October 2014, it
was reregistered under Russian law and introduced into the Uniform State Register of Legal
Entities as a Russian limited liability company.2
4. When Crimea was part of Ukraine and at present, Kiramet was and is still engaged in preserving
cultural heritage sites, which requires special permits (licenses). For instance, before 2014 Kiramet
had, inter alia, a license of 11 November 2011 issued by the State Architectural and Construction
Inspectorate of Ukraine, the Inspection of the State Architectural and Construction Control in the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea, which allowed a licensee to conduct the restoration,
1 CV of (Annex 1284).
2 Extract from the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, 18 May 2021 (Annex 504).
Translation
Annex 15
2
conservation, repair, and rehabilitation of cultural heritage sites, experimental buildings.3 After the
Republic of Crimea acceded to the Russian Federation, in August 2015, Kiramet was allowed to
perform works that impact the safety of capital construction facilities, including works on preparing
a land plot layout diagram, developing architectural and construction solutions, inspecting
engineering structures, buildings, and facilities, and others.4 In 2017, Kiramet obtained a license
from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation allowing them to prepare design documents
relating to the conservation, restoration, and reconstruction of cultural heritage sites (historical and
cultural monuments) of the peoples of the Russian Federation, to prepare design documents relating
to the repair and adjustment of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of the
peoples of the Russian Federation.5
5. It should also be noted that, during the transition period after Crimea’s admission to the Russian
Federation, Russian law allowed performing certain types of activity in the territory of the Republic
of Crimea, including the preservation of cultural heritage sites, without any license provided that a
competent authority is notified and mandatory requirements applicable to such activities are
complied with.6 In view of this, in November 2015, we sent a notice to the Ministry of Culture of
the Russian Federation that we would be engaged in the preservation of cultural heritage sites
(historical and cultural monuments) of the peoples of the Russian Federation, including such works
as the development of design documents relating to the conservation, repair, restoration,
adjustment, and reconstruction of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of the
peoples of the Russian Federation, the development of design documents relating to the engineering
reinforcement of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of the peoples of the
Russian Federation,7 which allowed us to continue performing the relevant works until we obtained
a license from a Russian licensing authority in 2017.
6. Below are projects relating to the protection of cultural heritage sites we developed before and after
2014, for most of which Kiramet earned a number of awards and letters of appreciation, including
the development of (research) and design documents relating to restoration works at the following
sites:
3 License AV No. 590590, issued by the State Architectural and Construction Inspectorate of Ukraine in the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea, 11 November 2011 (Annex 782).
4 Certificate No. P-1-15-1511 allowing Kiramet LLC to perform a certain type or types of works that impact the safety of
capital construction facilities (including particularly dangerous and technically complex capital construction facilities except
for nuclear power installations), 13 August 2015 (Annex 673).
5 License No. MKRF 04081 to carry out activity on preservation of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments)
of peoples of the Russian Federation issued by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, 1 March 2017 (Annex 471).
6 Federal Constitutional Law No. 6-FKZ “On the admission of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation and the
formation of new constituent entities within the Russian Federation - the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of
Sevastopol”, 21 March 2014 (Annex 61), Article 12.2(2).
7 Notification sent by Kiramet LLC to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation concerning the implementation of
the types of activities specified in Part 1 of Article 12 of the Federal Law “On the licensing of certain types of activity” the
implementation of which is allowed in the territories of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol with effect from 1 June 2015
without obtaining a license, 30 November 2015 (Annex 559). Letter of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation No.
6528-12-04, 30 September 2016 (Annex 575).
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3
before 2014
• Pinnacle Tower of the Main Building of the Vorontsov Palace that used to be a cultural
heritage site of national significance of Ukraine at the time, and street furniture, including
the Cascade (Western) Fountain of the Complex of the Vorontsov Palace, Alupka;
• Museum Complex “Scythian Neapolis” in the territory of a historical and archaeological
museum-reserve that used to be a cultural heritage site of national significance of Ukraine
at the time, Simferopol;8
• Garden Art Monument “Gurzuf Park” that used to be a cultural heritage site of national
significance of Ukraine at the time, Gurzuf (improvement), and others.
after 2014
• Cultural heritage site of regional significance of the Russian Federation – Kenessa (1891–
1896), Simferopol;9
• Sites of the Khan’s Palace Ensemble (16th – 19th centuries): Dilara Bikec Dürbe Tomb
(1764), Northern Dürbe Tomb (16th century), Southern Dürbe Tomb (17th century)
(cultural heritage site of federal significance of the Russian Federation), Bakhchisaray;10
• Cultural heritage site of federal significance – the Khan’s Palace, 16th – 19th centuries
Sary Guzel Bath, 1533, г. Bakhchisaray;11
• Cultural heritage site of federal significance – the Khan’s Palace, 16th – 19th centuries,
Grave Rotunda, 18th century, Gardens and Park Sites (16th – 18th centuries), Bakhchisaray;
• Chufut Kale Fortress and Cave City (5th – 15th centuries), Karaite Kenesas (Large and
Small), 14th, 18th centuries (cultural heritage sites of federal significance), Bakhchisaray
District;12
• Cultural heritage site of regional significance – E.K. Mazirova’s Mansion (late 19th
century), Feodosia;
• Cultural heritage site of regional significance – the House where M.A. Voloshin Lived,
late 19th – early 20th centuries, Koktebel;
• Cultural heritage site of federal significance – the Complex of the Sudak Fortress, 14th –
15th centuries, Sudak (priority emergency works);
8 Kiramet’s Diplomas (Annex 1235), Golden diploma of a review contest of the best works of Crimea in the nomination
“Public Buildings and Complexes”; Diploma of the National Association of Surveyors and Designers for the 2nd place in the
nomination “Best Concept of an Unrealized Project”.
9 Kiramet’s Diplomas (Annex 1235), Bronze diploma of a review contest “Best Site for Preservation and Development” in
2019; Golden diploma of a review contest of the best works of Crimea in the nomination “Restoration and Reconstruction”;
Diploma of the National Association of Surveyors and Designers of the 1st grade in the nomination “Best Restoration
(Reconstruction) Project for a Cultural Heritage Site” in 2019.
10 Kiramet’s Diplomas (Annex 1235), Golden diploma of a review contest in 2017–2019 “Architectural Works of Crimea” in
the nomination “Restoration and Reconstruction”; Diploma of the Union of Architects of Russia at a review contest “The Best
Site of Preservation and Development” in 2020.
11 Kiramet’s Diplomas (Annex 1235), Diploma of the National Association of Surveyors and Designers of the 2nd grade in the
category “Best Restoration (Reconstruction) Project for a Cultural Heritage Site”.
12 Kiramet’s Diplomas (Annex 1235), Silver diploma of a review contest “Best Site for Preservation and Development” in
2019; Silver diploma of a review contest in 2017–2019 “Architectural Works of Crimea” in the category “Restoration and
Reconstruction”.
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4
• Cultural heritage site of regional significance – the Building of the Theatre of the Nobility
(architect A.N. Beketov, engineer A.Ya. Rykov), 1911, for the State Autonomous
Institution of Culture of the Republic of Crimea “The Crimean Academic Russian Drama
Theatre of Gorky”, Simferopol.
7. Some members of the Kiramet team, myself included, have received numerous letters of
appreciation for contributing to the preservation of the cultural heritage of the Republic of
Crimea.13
b) Kiramet’s role in the works at the Khan Mosque
8. Kiramet was a subcontractor engaged in the development of design documents relating to the
preservation of the cultural heritage site of federal significance – the Khan Mosque. This site is
located at the address: the Republic of Crimea, Bakhchisaray, 133 Rechnaya St., Bldg. “Sh”.
Corporation ATTA Group Limited Liability Company (the “ATTA Group”), was the general
contractor.
9. We provided these services in accordance with our authorisation documents, including:
• Certificate allowing performing a certain type or types of works that influence the safety of
capital construction facilities (including especially dangerous and technically complex capital
construction facilities except for nuclear installations) No. P-1-15-1511 of 13 August 2015,
issued by the self-regulatory organisation – Association “Urban Planning and Design
Alliance” (registration number in the State Register of Self-Regulatory Organisations SRO-P-
021-28082009);14
• Notice sent to the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation in November 2015 concerning
the preservation of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of the peoples of
the Russian Federation that allowed Kiramet to perform the relevant works until it obtained a
license for the preservation of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of the
peoples of the Russian Federation in 2017;
13 Letters of appreciation to Yulia Ivanishkina (Annex 1236), Letter of appreciation of 9 April 2019 sent by the Chairman of
the State Council of the Republic of Crimea to Yu.A. Ivanishkina, General Director of Kiramet LLC; certificate of
appreciation of 30 January 2020 issued by the Chairman of the State Committee for the Cultural Heritage Preservation of the
Republic of Crimea to Yu.A. Ivanishkina, General Director of Kiramet LLC; Letter of appreciation sent by the General
Director of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological
Museum-Reserve” V.L. Martynyuk to the General Director and staff of Kiramet LLC; certificate of merit issued by the
National Foundation for “the Revival of the Russian Manor” to Yu.A. Ivanishkina, General Director of Kiramet LLC;
certificate of appreciation issued by A.Sh. Shamuzafarov, President of the self-regulatory organisation – Association
“Alliance of Urban Planning and Design” to the General Director of Kiramet LLC.
14 Certificate No. P-1-15-1511 allowing Kiramet LLC to perform a certain type or types of works that impact the safety of
capital construction facilities (including particularly dangerous and technically complex capital construction facilities except
for nuclear power installations), 13 August 2015 (Annex 673).
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5
• License for the preservation of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of
the peoples of the Russian Federation No. MKRF 04081 of 1 March 2017, issued by the
Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.15
10. The prepared restoration project of the Khan Mosque underwent all necessary expert examinations,
including a state historical and cultural expert examination of design documents.16 In particular, an
expert examination of the first stage of works – in relation to which, in my understanding, Ukraine
raises its claims – was prepared by three certified experts from leading design organisations and
institutes of the Russian Federation: the Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State University for
Geological Prospecting; the State Unitary Enterprise of the Moscow Region “Moscow Regional
Information and Analysis Cultural Centre”; the Federal State Unitary Enterprise “Central Research
and Design Workshops” of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. The expert panel
was composed of specialists from various areas of expertise who had vast experience at the time
of the expert examination, namely:
• engineer, 29 years of work experience;
• conservation architect of the highest category, 32 years of work experience;
• conservation architect of the highest category, 47 years of work experience.
11. In conducting the historical and cultural expert examination, the expert panel concluded that the
design documents submitted for expert examination complied with the requirements for the state
protection of cultural heritage sites and gave a positive opinion. Besides, the experts established
the following:
“[T]he restoration project submitted for expert examination is developed as per the existing
bearing structures of the monument with the preservation of all features and special aspects of the
monument which are classified as an object of protection of the cultural heritage site – the Khan’s
Palace (16th – 19th centuries): the Khan Mosque (1740–1743) (the Republic of Crimea,
Bakhchisaray, 133 Rechnaya St., Bldg. “Sh”)”;
“[T]he design solutions are made in accordance with historical, archival, and bibliographic
research and comprehensive full-scale observations of the monument, and with the assignment for
the restoration of the cultural heritage site”;
“[T]he documents submitted for expert examination contain necessary materials and documents
sufficient to justify the design solutions aimed at the preservation of the cultural heritage site of
federal significance …”17
12. The developed project provided for the following stages of repair and restoration works: priority
emergency works, two stages of repair and restoration works. The priority emergency works
included the elimination of emergency on the northern roof pitch of the Khan Mosque. It was
15 License No. MKRF 04081 to carry out activity on preservation of cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments)
of peoples of the Russian Federation issued by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, 1 March 2017 (Annex 471).
16 Certificate of state historical and cultural expert examination of the design documents, 29 June 2017 (Annex 696).
17 Certificate of state historical and cultural expert examination of the design documents, 29 June 2017 (Annex 696), pp. 20,
23.
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6
planned that the first stage of repair and restoration works would concern the restoration of
operational reliability of structures whose technical condition was found to be partially operable
and inadmissible, with no changes to be introduced into the structural layout. Below are measures
which were designed to be taken during the first stage (and were completed), including the main
works:
• Setting up a temporary shed above the mosque’s roof;
• Dismantling of the roof covering, rafter structures, and rafter plates;
• Dismantling of the ceiling covering and beams of the attic ceiling;
• Applying a reinforced concrete levelling layer along load-bearing walls;
• Restoration of rafter plates and beams of the attic ceiling;
• Restoration of the roof framing, rafter structures, sheathing, and boardwalk;
• Replacement of roof tiles.
13. All priority emergency works and repair and restoration works of the first stage have been
completed by now.
14. The second stage of repair and restoration works provides for such main works as the lowering of
ground level on the eastern side of the mosque, the restoration and reconstruction of the floor on
the ground floor, and others. The restoration of the interior of rooms and façades of the mosque’s
building, including the restoration of the interior and exterior plastering and the restoration of the
interior and exterior finishing and paintings.
15. Moreover, to ensure that the monument is fit for modern use, the project provided for the
replacement of electrical wiring, electric energy consumption devices, the re-hanging of a
chandelier, the replacement of security and fire alarms, and the installation of lightning
protection.18
16. I understand that Ukraine alleges that there were a number of breaches relating to the first stage of
works, including:
a) Damage to the roof of the Khan Mosque in the Museum-Reserve by unnecessary invasive
work, with 104 original beams were replaced with completely new ones built with modern
technology, even though only 6 actually needed to be replaced and 5 - more restored.
Concrete transverse beams were installed with the use of reinforcement;
b) The stripping and discarding of historical handcrafted tiles (“Tatarka”) from the roof of the
Khan Mosque and their replacement by modern Spanish tiles. Breaches in the procedure for
dismantling and laying out tiles;
c) Complete replacement of the original anti-seismic oak belt supporting the roof with a
completely new one made of incongruous concrete and metal;
18 Certificate of state historical and cultural expert examination of the design documents, 29 June 2017 (Annex 696), pp. 20,
21.
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d) Destruction beyond repair of the Main Building to the complex caused by the installation of
a metal frame above the Main Building of the Khan Mosque, with a shed on top of it, as a
result of which soil can subside and the Main Building of the Khan’s Palace can be destroyed;
e) No necessary preparatory works were performed;
f) The Khan Mosque’s wall paintings done back in the 18th century were not properly protected.
17. I have examined all the assertions above and present my opinion on them below.
a) Damage to the roof of the Khan Mosque in the Museum-Reserve by unnecessary
invasive work, with 104 original beams were replaced with completely new ones built
with modern technology, even though only 6 actually needed to be replaced and 5 - more
restored. Concrete transverse beams were installed with the use of reinforcement
18. It was resolved to fully replace the beams after examining the state of the monument in general and
the state of structural elements, with the said examination also conducted prior to the preparation
of design documents. In particular, as specialists (including, inter alia, mycologists, construction
engineers, expert chemical engineers, and others) were examining the technical state of loadbearing
engineering structures of the Khan Mosque, they identified the following defects:
inconsistency between design solutions of the structure and construction requirements for seismic
regions; damaged or detached protective coatings; destroyed construction material; wooden
elements are damaged by rot and biological pests.19
19. Besides, while examining the state of wooden structures of the roof and the attic ceiling of the
Khan Mosque, mycological and entomological examinations were conducted in addition to
engineering examinations. Samples for expert examination were taken on 20 October 2017 by
Sergey Petrovich Ivanov, an expert ecologist, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the
Department of Ecology and Zoology of the Crimean Federal University named after V.I.
Vernadsky, whose working experience is over 35 years. The mycological examinations revealed,
inter alia, the following damage caused to wooden structures of the roof and the attic ceiling of the
Khan Mosque’s building:
• numerous areas of intensive fungal damage caused by an assembly of microscopic wooddestroying
fungi and bacteria identified as three types of rot, and extensive damage to wooden
elements caused by wood engravers and carpenter bees of two types;
• numerous areas of damage to wooden structures of the roof indicate that the examined wood
had an established biodestructive environment of fungal and entomological organisms, which
in turn implies that the biodegradation of the wooden structures began a long time ago and
that the greater part of the wood is in a state of permanent decay;
19 Positive Opinion of the Federal Autonomous Institution “Main Department of State Expertise” No. 563-17/GGE-11184/05,
25 May 2017 (Annex 475), p. 25.
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• thriving of biodestructive fungi and xylophage insects on the wooden elements of the roofing
facilitates re-contamination of the wooden structures, other wooden elements of the building
and their subsequent decay.20
20. Moreover, according to a protocol of mechanical tests conducted on the samples of wood from the
roof elements of the Khan Mosque in an accredited laboratory of the Academy of Construction and
Architecture of the Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education
“Vernadsky Crimean Federal University”, the wood of the surface layer in section – and of the
entire section for some elements – is de-structured (physical and mechanical properties of the
material have changed). The strength of de-structured wood is 1.7 times lower than that of an
unaffected layer of wood.21
21. An inspection of dismantled wooden elements of the Khan Mosque’s roof (more than 300
elements) revealed that:
“Apart from biological damage, almost all structural elements have mechanical damage, namely
curvature of the axis in the vertical and horizontal planes; long cracks along the element with an
average width of up to 5–12 mm and with a depth of half and more section of the element; cuts and
notches with a depth of up to 10 cm; de-structured surface layer (including the surface of cracks)
to a depth of up to 50 mm”.22
22. Following the inspection, the specialists concluded that the level of damage to the wood and the
state of wooden structures of the roof require their complete replacement. Additionally, the
specialists found that “[A]fter removing fatally damaged sections of elements, geometrical
parameters of the elements become unfit for use as beams of the attic ceiling”.23 The examinations
therefore revealed that, after removing the de-structured layer, the remaining section of the
structures was not enough to withstand the applied load. Traditional reinforcement methods
(increase in section, installation of backup or additional structural elements, and others) were not
applicable in this case due to a large number of elements in a small area of space (there is no space
for installing additional structural elements). In view of this, it was resolved to replace the structural
elements while preserving the structural layout and material from which the structures are made,
i.e. wood.
23. As far as I know, on 23 April 2018, the dismantled structural elements of the Khan Mosque’s roof,
including top beams and support core beams, were transferred to the Museum-Reserve.
20 Research and Design Documents, Volume IV, Section 4, Mycological Examinations, Mechanical Tests, 2017 (Annex 692),
Conclusion following the results of the mycological expert examination of structures of the roof and beams of the attic ceiling
of the Khan Mosque’s building.
21 Research and Design Documents, Volume IV, Section 4, Mycological Examinations, Mechanical Tests, 2017 (Annex 692),
Test protocol No. 12 of 27 October 2017.
22 Research and Design Documents, Volume IV, Section 4, Mycological Examinations, Mechanical Tests, 2017 (Annex 692),
Certificate of inspection of dismantled wooden elements of the Khan Mosque’s Roof.
23 Research and Design Documents, Volume IV, Section 4, Mycological Examinations, Mechanical Tests, 2017 (Annex 692),
Certificate of inspection of the wooden beams of the attic ceiling of the Khan Mosque’s roof.
Annex 15
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b) The stripping and discarding of historical handcrafted tiles (“Tatarka”) from the roof
of the Khan Mosque and their replacement by modern Spanish tiles. Breaches in the
procedure for dismantling and laying out tiles
24. The Khan Mosque is a rather old structure (built in 1532) and the building has undergone various
changes throughout its existence, including insofar as its roof is concerned. In its original state, the
mosque’s roof was made in the form of dome-shaped roofs with one minaret. Since then and until
the fire of 1736, a khan’s lodge was built in the building, and formidable minarets were erected on
the roof at its corners.
25. In 1740, the Khan Mosque’s building was fully reconstructed after the fire of 1736 and rebuilt. The
dome-shaped roof was replaced with a hipped structure with four slopping surfaces (i.e. the
structure used in the building to date), and galleries, the interior, and other things were changed
within the building.
26. Repair and restoration works were performed on the roof in the next historical stages when the
Khan Mosque underwent repair. In my understanding, in 1905–1910, 50% of roof tiles were
replaced with new ones, rotten wooden beams and rafters were replaced, and a new shed was
installed above the porch. Roof tiles were also partially replaced in the 1950s. In 1960–1965, the
Khan Mosque underwent emergency restoration works, including the complete replacement of roof
tiles in 1967. That the above works were performed was mentioned in a number of documents
prepared by specialists at the time of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, for instance, E.V.
Lapushinskaya, an architect of the State Committee for Construction of the USSR,
Ukrproektrestavratsia (Kiev) that developed research and design documents for the Khan Mosque
and other sites of the Khan’s Palace).
27. Thus, the assertion that the tiles on the Khan Mosque’s roof were authentic before the 2016 works
is false. Authentic tiles are green glazed tiles that still may be found – through rather few in numbers
– only on several structures of the Khan’s Palace Ensemble (for example, on the roof of the Small
Mosque of the Main Building), but when we were developing research and design documents, there
had been no such tiles left on the Khan Mosque. The tiles that were on the Khan Mosque’s roof in
2016 had been collected from buildings in the city and neighbouring villages during the previous
restoration works.
28. There is information based on which it is possible to conclude that, following the restoration of the
Khan Mosque after the fire of 1736, the angle of slope was increased from around 14 to 28 degrees.
When the angle of slope is increased, pan tiles slide down along clay mortar on which the tiles are
laid out. During the next numerous restoration works, the clay mortar was replaced with cement
and lime one – weighting more when dries up – with the quality of the roof covering decreased as
a result: the layer under the tiles became more brittle, and cracks formed in the layer in the course
of seasonal deformations. In light of this, the application of cement and lime mortar – which was
used because the angle of slope was increased and the tiles subsequently slid down – increased the
load on the roof’s elements and affected the roof’s waterproof capacities.
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29. Meanwhile, the roof covering was repeatedly replaced throughout its existence as evidenced by
edged calibrated board (whose production improved after World War II) used under the tiles as a
flooring. In 2010 and 2016, technical examinations of the roof structures revealed that the state of
the mosque’s roof was unsatisfactory and that of the northern roof side – emergency.24
30. In terms of shape (“Monk and Nun”), material, colour solutions, and geometrical properties, the
Spanish-manufactured tiles provided for in Kiramet’s project are identical to “Tatarka” tiles that
the monument used to have. Besides, the external appearance of the roof with these Spanishmanufactured
tiles remains the same.
31. In addressing the matter of how the tiles were fastened, it should be noted that this solution was
scientifically justified, and at any rate I do not see in this any violation of the procedure for
dismantling and laying out tiles. Considering that after repair and restoration works are over, the
building of the Khan Mosque is supposed to be used in accordance with its previous functional
purpose of a house of worship (involving large gatherings of people), the building should comply
with modern design regulations in terms of reliability and safety of people inside the building. In
seismically dangerous areas, design regulations do not allow constructing roofs with the use of
small piece elements without the latter being securely fastened to the roof structures. Selftapping
screws were designed to be used as fasteners on the roof of the Khan Mosque since, firstly,
they considerably decrease the load on the roof structures (without making the roof heavier by
using clay or cement and lime mortars) and, secondly, they fasten the tiles in a more reliable and
safe manner.
c) Complete replacement of the original anti-seismic oak belt supporting the roof with a
new one made of incongruous concrete and metal
32. In 2016, when design documents were being prepared for repair and restoration works at the Khan
Mosque, an engineering examination revealed that there was no anti-seismic belt at the level of
boards in load-bearing walls.25 What Ukraine calls the original anti-seismic oak belt is actually
anything but such a belt because, in terms of its design, an anti-seismic belt should be a continuous
structure, and it is impossible to make this structure of wooden elements since such elements cannot
be locked in a sealed system that has no swivel joints.
33. That there is no belt is due to the fact that the building was constructed in a period when there were
no anti-seismic regulations at all. However, one cannot disregard not only the present legal
framework but the environmental conditions in Crimea with regular earthquakes and the seismic
intensity of construction sites in the territory of the Khan Palace’s Ensemble scoring 8.26
24 Certificate No. 1 of the technical state of the historical and cultural monument and planning area improvements works in
relation to the Khan’s Palace, 9 November 2010 (Annex 655). Research and Design Documents, Volume I, Preliminary works,
Section 2, 06/04. 16 PR, 2016 (Annex 677), Certificate of the technical state of a cultural heritage site (historical and cultural
monuments), 23 March 2016, p. 37.
25 Research and Design Documents, Volume I, Section 3, Report on preliminary engineering examination, 06/04. 16 PR, 2016
(Annex 678), p. 15. Research and Design Documents. Volume I, Section 8, Engineering report, 06/04. 16 PR, 2016 (Annex
679), p. 42.
26 Research and Design Documents, Volume VI, Restoration project, Section 4, Design Solutions, 06/04.16 KR, 2017 (Annex
693), p. 12.
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34. I understand that Ukraine’s principal claim is that a concrete belt will “weight the construction”
and “intensify the erosion of the quarry (limestone) masonry of the walls”.27 However, as concerns
“the weighting”, the engineering solution provided for a reinforcement layer to be laid in a toothing
(groove) in a wall from which quarry rock was to be taken.28 As the weight of removed quarry rock
and that of added reinforced concrete are basically equal, the weight of the construction remained
as before.
35. As for the suggestion about the erosion of the quarry masonry of the walls, a levelling layer cannot
have any adverse impact on limestone. The materials are compatible. As our comprehensive
research showed, wooden structures were the only elements that could have been damaged by
contact with concrete and steel elements, and our restoration project set out that the said wooden
structures were to be protected by roll waterproofing.29 Further, all steel structures were to be prime
coated with enamelling performed later on.30
36. Turning to the point about the authenticity of the site and its historical value, the installation of an
anti-seismic belt cannot have affected the exterior appearance of the Khan Mosque since the
reinforcement levelling layer should be installed within a wall and cannot be visually observed.
d) Destruction beyond repair of the Main Building to the complex caused by the
installation of a metal frame above the Main Building of the Khan Mosque, with a shed
on top of it, as a result of which soil can subside and the Main Building of the Khan’s
Palace can be destroyed
37. A metal shed has nothing to do with the Khan Mosque, and, in my understanding, Ukraine referred
to the shed above the Main Building of the Khan’s Palace (i.e. a different structure). Kiramet was
not involved in the erection of that structure above the site but, as far as I know, it was necessary
to install a metal shed above the Main Building of the Khan’s Palace in order to protect the palace’s
interior from atmospheric impact during repair and restoration works on the roof (similar process
solutions are widely used during repair and restoration works in other countries, including Turkey).
Dimensions of the foundation bed for supports of the shed and the design solution were taken in
such a manner so as to ensure that ground load under the foundation bed did not exceed 1 kg/cm2,
which is acceptable even for fill-up ground and compatible with the ground load of a person of
average build. The estimated “subsidence” of ground under such a load cannot lead to the
deformation of the Main Building of the Khan’s Palace. Several years have elapsed since the first
stage of works was completed, and Ukraine’s assertions about the expected “subsidence” of ground
and other unfavourable consequences of such works at the Khan’s Palace and the Main Building
have failed to materialise. There are no adverse consequences of emergency works and the first
stage of works.
27 Annex 734 to Ukrainian Memorial of 12 June 2018, p. 12.
28 Research and Design Documents, Volume VI, Restoration project, Section 4, Design Solutions, 06/04.16 KR, 2017 (Annex
693), p. 13.
29 Research and Design Documents, Volume VI, Restoration project, Section 4, Design Solutions, 06/04.16 KR, 2017 (Annex
693), p. 15.
30 Research and Design Documents, Volume VI, Restoration project, Section 4, Design Solutions, 06/04.16 KR, 2017 (Annex
693), p. 12.
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e) No necessary preparatory works were performed
38. I understand that Ukraine alleges that “[t]he monument “Great Khan Mosque” was not thoroughly
and comprehensively researched. Neither were held: Full-scale research […] The technological
features of the monument’s construction were not studied as well. The available materials do not
confirm the fulfilment of the full architectural and archaeological measurement and photographic
fixation of the monument. Historical and archival, as well as bibliographic studies of indirect
written sources, photographs, drawings, paintings, other images of the monument, etc.”31
39. The above allegations are entirely wrong. Russian law on the protection of cultural heritage sites
sets forth that it is necessary, first, to obtain an assignment and a permit for works to be performed
to preserve a cultural heritage site, second, to develop research and design documents, which is a
multi-volume document that serves as a basis for preparatory works and comprehensive research,
photographic fixation, and other examinations.32
40. All these stages preceded priority emergency repair and restoration works at the Khan Mosque. For
example, after an assignment and a permit for relevant works were obtained, historical, archival
and bibliographic examinations, historical and architectural, and full-scale, engineering and
technical examinations, chemical, technological and mycological examinations, mechanical tests
were all performed involving specialists from the relevant areas, with the above results recorded in
a research report and reflected in all architectural and design solutions made with respect to the
site.
41. We were involved in the preparation of design documents for the first stage of repair and restoration
works at the Khan Mosque (production works were completed in August 2018), and Kiramet acted
as General Contractor during the preparation of research and design documents at the second stage.
Both projects underwent a state historical and cultural expert examination held by certified state
experts: engineers and conservation architects.33
f) The Khan Mosque’s wall paintings done back in the 18th century were not properly
protected
42. First and foremost, I would like to note that information about calligraphy paintings being made
on the Khan Mosque’s walls in the 18th century is not quite correct. We found a plastic lath in
certain areas of the plaster layer, including those with paintings, which indicates that the paintings
were recreated during repair works performed when Crimea was part of Ukraine. As far as I know,
those elements that can be damaged in the course of works were protected by shields during the
first stage of works and are protected at present.
31 Annex 734 to Ukrainian Memorial of 12 June 2018, p. 6.
32 Federal Law No. 73-FZ “On cultural heritage sites (historical and cultural monuments) of the peoples of the Russian
Federation”, 25 June 2002 (Annex 45), Article 45.
33 Certificate of state historical and cultural expert examination of the design documents, 29 June 2017 (Annex 696), p.8.
Certificate of state historical and cultural expert examination of the design documents (2nd stage), 31 October 2018 (Annex
707).
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43. As concerns the protection of the Khan Mosque’s interior, the developed design solutions provided
for the creation of a waterproofing floor on the mosque’s roof and a temporary shed in order to
protect the building from atmospheric precipitation in the course of priority emergency works.
I hereby confirm that the above information is true to my best knowledge and belief.
Date: 19 May 2021
Full name:
Signature: (signed)
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Witness Statement of
31 May 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
I. Introduction
1. I, , a native of Crimea, was born and raised in the
city of Simferopol, have two higher education degrees (in the specialties “Country Studies –
International Relations” and “Economics”). In the period from 2015 to 2017, I was
the Board of the Regional Non-Governmental Organisation “Ukrainian Community of
Crimea” (hereinafter – the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea”, “the Community”) and,
since 2018, I have become ”.
Since 2018, I have also been
the
Information Agency “Krym segodnya” (“Krym syogodni”), since 2020 –
.
2. I am familiar with Ukraine’s claims before the International Court of Justice in relation to
alleged pressure on Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian identity in Crimea after the 2014 referendum.
By virtue of my work experience and involvement in public activities on the peninsula, and given
the fact that all my life I have lived in Crimea, I am fully informed of the conditions in which
Crimean Ukrainians lived and live on the peninsula and what opportunities they have to exercise
their rights to national and cultural self-determination. In the present witness statement, I report, in
particular, on the conditions and opportunities that ethnic Ukrainians have in Crimea to express
their national identity, use the Ukrainian language in various spheres of public life, observe
traditions, celebrate national holidays, memorable dates and other events that are significant to the
Ukrainian people.
II. Ukrainian Culture and the Ukrainian Language in Russian Crimea
3. Crimea, due to a number of historical events, is one of the most multi-ethnic regions
– representatives of more than a hundred ethnicities live here in peace and harmony. Each people
has unique culture, language, traditions and way of life. Ukrainians are the second largest ethnic
group of the Crimean peninsula. At the same time, the Russian language has always been the main
Translation
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2
language of communication in Crimea, which was known by the absolute majority of the
population, be it Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars or other peoples living on the peninsula. Despite the
popularity of the Russian language and its widespread use in all spheres of public life, after Crimea
became part of the Russian Federation, the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages received the
status of state languages alongside the Russian language. In the conditions of Crimea’s multicultural
environment, this historic decision has undoubtedly contributed to the harmonisation of inter-ethnic
relations in the region and has been positively perceived by the population.
4. Today, Crimeans have the opportunity to study the Ukrainian language at all levels of
education: in preschool institutions, schools and universities. It will be important to note that the
Ukrainian language is taught in Crimean schools at the request and on the basis of applications by
the students’ parents. Those wishing to have an in-depth study of the Ukrainian language at the
academic level can enter the Department of Ukrainian Philology of the Fevzi Yakubov Crimean
Engineering and Pedagogical University (hereinafter “CEPU”) and the Department of Ukrainian
Philology of the Institute of Philology of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (hereinafter
“CFU”).
5. After the reunification of Crimea with Russia, the study of the Ukrainian language
ceased to be compulsory1, the students of educational institutions became able to choose to study
their native language and consequently, for quite understandable and objective reasons, the interest
in the Ukrainian language in Crimea began to gradually decline. Nevertheless, many ethnic
Ukrainians residing in Crimea continue to use the Ukrainian language in everyday life, in business
communication and in the academic environment. It is still not uncommon to hear Ukrainian speech
in public places.
6. Ukrainian culture, including the historical and cultural heritage of the Ukrainian
people in Crimea, the links between the Ukrainian culture and the Russian one as well as Crimean
Tatar and other national cultures, remain at the epicentre of life in Crimea. Today, the Crimean
Ethnographic Museum operates in Crimea, which is one of the leading cultural, educational and
scientific institutions of Crimea. One of its permanent exhibitions, the “Mosaic of Crimean
Cultures”, sheds light on the cultures of more than 20 peoples and ethnic groups inhabiting the
Crimean peninsula, including Ukrainians, Belarusians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Jews, Italians, Karaites,
Crimean Tatars, Krymchaks and Germans. The “Ukrainians” exposition complex displays a
1 In Ukrainian Crimea, the Ukrainian language was the only state language and therefore the study of it was compulsory
at all levels of education. In accordance with part 2 of Article 11 of Law of the Republic of Crimea of 6 July 2015
No. 131-ZRK/2015 “On education in the Republic Crimea”, “citizens of the Russian Federation residing in the territory
of the Republic of Crimea have the right to receive preschool, primary general, basic general education in their native
language, including Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar, as well as the right to study their native language...”; see
Law of the Republic of Crimea No. 131-ZRK/2015 “On education in the Republic of Crimea”, 6 July 2015 (Annex 91).
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fragment of the interior of a Ukrainian peasant house with household items, kitchenware and
Ukrainian folk costumes.
7. The V.S. Roik Museum of Ukrainian Embroidery in Simferopol depicts the history
and distinctive features of Ukrainian embroidery; its permanent display consists of an extensive
collection of folk arts and crafts, including scarves, paintings, embroidered shirts [“vyshivanka”]
and towels [“rushnik”] that are embroidered with various ornaments and patterns peculiar to the
different regions of residence of the Eastern Slavs. Of particular value are the works of Vera
Sergeevna Roik, an outstanding embroiderer, founder of the school of Ukrainian folk embroidery in
Crimea, Hero of Ukraine.
8. The State Autonomous Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Gasprinsky Media Centre”,
established by the State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea in 2015 –
within the framework of the implementation of state national policy in the field of inter-ethnic and
inter-confessional relations – carries out, among other things, the publication of literature in native
languages. For example, a short while ago, with support of the “Gasprinsky Media Centre”, the
collection of poems in the Ukrainian language “Lines like the Patterns of an Embroidered Towel”
[original in Ukrainian and Russian] by Crimean poet, member of the RNGO “Ukrainian
Community of Crimea” Nadezhda Ryndich was published2. In 2018, also at the expense of the
budget of the Republic of Crimea, the album of embroideries and patterns by Vera Roik “Songs
Embroidered with Threads” [original in Russian and Ukrainian] in the Ukrainian language was
released3, which was compiled by Vadim Roik, the son of the outstanding embroiderer. Books
“Mummy’s fairy tales” [original in Ukrainian] by Arina Em and “Angel in the palm of your hand”
[original in Ukrainian] by Nina Plaksina are planned to be published in Ukrainian this year.
9. In 2019, with support of the Ministry of Internal Policy, Information and
Communications of the Republic of Crimea, at the expense of the republican budget, the “Crimean
Album”, consisting of three photobooks: “In the unity of peoples – the power of Crimea”,
“Architecture – the chronicle of the world” and “Crimea above sea level”, was released. The section
on the peoples inhabiting the Crimean peninsula not only depicts the history, culture and traditions
of various ethnic groups of Crimea, but also reflects their distinctiveness and uniqueness with the
help of colourful photographs4.
10. The State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “House of Peoples’
Friendship”, the second institution subordinate to the State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of
the Republic of Crimea, also contributes to the implementation of state national policy and
2 N. Ryndich, Lines like the Patterns of an Embroidered Towel: Poems, Songs, Dedications, Gasprinsky Media Centre,
Simferopol, 2020 (Annex 1111).
3 Songs Embroidered with Threads: Album of Embroidery and Patterns of Vera Roik, compiled by Vadim Roik,
Gasprinsky Media Centre, Simferopol, 2018 (Annex 1077).
4 Crimean Album, Simferopol, 2019 (Annex 1095).
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harmonisation of inter-ethnic relations in Crimea. The “House of Peoples’ Friendship” annually
organises and assists various creative teams in organising such cultural-mass events as the
Republican Festival “Inflorescence of Crimea’s Cultures”, the Day of Unity of the Slavs, the
Republican Festival of National Traditions and Rituals “Matryonin Dvor”, the Festival of Ukrainian
Culture “Obzhinki”, the days of cultures of the peoples of Crimea, the days of memory and
mourning, national and religious holidays, events, concerts, conferences and campaigns. In 2020,
with assistance of the “House of Peoples’ Friendship”, at the expense of the republican budget,
women’s and men’s Ukrainian national costumes were sewn for members of the RNGO “Ukrainian
Community of Crimea”.
11. I can proudly say that the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea”,
s also among those involved in the promotion of Ukrainian culture
and the preservation of the Ukrainian language in Crimea. Today, the Information Agency “Krym
segodnya” (“Krym syogodni”) operates in Crimea, which is a unique project of the RNGO
“Ukrainian Community of Crimea”. The media group of the Information Agency includes three
information resources in the Ukrainian language – the magazine “Krym syogodni”, the newspaper
“Krymskiy visnik” and the Internet portal “Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0”. In general, the Ukrainian
language remains popular among the Crimeans who consider it to be their native language. I will
elaborate on the activities of the Community, aimed primarily at the preservation and development
of Ukrainian culture and the Ukrainian language in Crimea, in more detail below.
III. Activities of the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” and other nongovernmental
organisations
12. After Crimea became part of Russia, Crimean Ukrainians came forward with an
initiative to establish a non-governmental organisation with the aim of integrating Crimean
Ukrainians into the public life of Crimea, maintaining and promoting Ukrainian culture and the
Ukrainian language on the peninsula. As a result, in October 2015, the RNGO “Ukrainian
Community of Crimea” was established in the territory of the Republic of Crimea, registered as a
regional non-governmental organisation. The activities of the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of
Crimea”, in accordance with its Charter, are aimed at strengthening the friendly ties between the
fraternal Russian and Ukrainian peoples, uniting the efforts of members of the Community to
promote Ukrainian culture, language and traditions, fostering Ukrainian national identity, a sense of
pride in belonging to the ethnicity of the Ukrainian people and protecting political and social rights
of Crimeans of Ukrainian origin. The scope of the Community’s activities include: care for
Crimeans of Ukrainian origin or for those who consider Ukrainian culture and the Ukrainian
language to be their native; assistance to and legal protection of members of the Community;
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establishment of contacts with organisations that share the ideas of the Community, in Crimea and
beyond, and cooperation with them; organisation of cultural-mass events and leisure of members of
the Community; participation in public life, legal support, consultations; education of members of
the Community in the spirit of respect and love for Ukrainian culture and history, fostering a caring
attitude of the younger generation to cultural heritage and traditions; organisation and holding of
discussion groups, seminars on teaching the Ukrainian language, dances and national songs5.
Today, the Community, with already more than 700 members across the entire territory of the
peninsula, engages in cultural education in a targeted and systematic manner and in cooperation
with numerous peoples of Crimea. Local branches, representing the interests of the RNGO
“Ukrainian Community of Crimea”, also operate in several regions of Crimea, namely in Dzhankoy,
Evpatoria, Kerch, Feodosia, Yalta and the Simferopolskiy district. It is especially important for
members of the Community to foster and preserve the Ukrainian ethnic identity of members of the
Ukrainian diaspora of Crimea.
13. As far as I know, until 2014, there were not many non-governmental organisations in
Crimea, the activities of which were aimed at preserving and developing Ukrainian culture
specifically. Perhaps it is because there was no particular need for this during the period when
Crimea was part of Ukraine. I know that, besides the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea”,
the Crimean Regional Non-Governmental Organisation National and Cultural Autonomy
“Ukrainians of Crimea” and the Non-Governmental Organisation “Local Ukrainian National and
Cultural Autonomy ‘Revival in Unity’ of the urban district of Simferopol”, were also registered in
Crimea. I have no knowledge either of the outcomes of their activities or of their participation in
public life on the peninsula.
14. For some time, “Ukrainian Cultural Centre”, an organisation led by Leonid Kuzmin
which was not officially registered, operated in Simferopol. I saw several publications in the media
with statements by the centre’s activists that they planned to contribute to the revival of Ukrainian
culture in Crimea. However, apart from ambitious statements, no one saw the actual results of their
activities on the peninsula. Activists of the said centre tried to publish the Ukrainian-language
newspaper (or brochure) “Krymsky Teren”, which they distributed on the streets of Simferopol,
handing it out to passers-by for free.
15. I personally came across the activists of the “Ukrainian Cultural Centre” several
times, also at events dedicated to the anniversary of the birth of Taras Grigorievich Shevchenko
when laying flowers at the monument of the Ukrainian poet. Unfortunately, I have to say that their
actions were clearly of a provocative nature: they shouted anti-Russian slogans, allowed themselves
to insult members of our Community, prevented the laying of flowers or even threw them away
5 Charter of the Regional Non-Governmental Organisation “Ukrainian Community of Crimea”, 2018 (Annex 831).
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when we left. As far as I know, many activists of the “Ukrainian Cultural Centre” eventually moved
from Crimea to Ukraine. However, and we still occasionally come across some activists of the
centre, who stayed in Crimea, mainly also when laying flowers at the monuments of
T.G. Shevchenko in Simferopol and Lesya Ukrainka in Yalta. It is important to note that no one
prevents them from laying flowers and visiting the said monuments and no one interferes with their
participation in other cultural-mass events either.
16. I have no knowledge about activities of a non-governmental organisation Crimean
Center for Business and Cultural Cooperation “Ukrainian House”. As for newspapers in the
Ukrainian language published in Crimea at the time when Crimea was part of Ukraine, I know that
there was a newspaper “Krymskaya Svetlitsa” (or “Krymska Svitlytsia”). I have never heard of
newspapers “Krymske Slovo” [“Crimean Word”], “Dumka” [“Thought”], “Dzvin Sevastopolya”
[“Bell of Sevastopol”], “Slovo Sevastopolya” [“Word of Sevastopol”] and have never come across
them before 2014 or afterwards.
17. The RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” provides assistance to a number of
creative groups in the different regions of Crimea; in particular, it helps them to communicate with
the republican state authorities and local authorities, advises on the issues of establishing contacts
with the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Crimea, organises tours, training, submission of
application documents for grants, subsidies and incentives. In addition, the RNGO “Ukrainian
Community of Crimea” provides consultation to citizens seeking help, for example, with the issues
of obtaining Russian citizenship. We also assist both residents of Crimea and visiting citizens of
Ukraine in interaction with the local authorities, migration service offices, the Civic Chamber of the
Republic of Crimea, on the issues of preparation and restoration of documents, crossing the border,
studying the Ukrainian language in schools. The Community is often approached by Ukrainians
coming from Donbass, among other things, on the issues of housing, the procedure for obtaining a
residence permit or citizenship.
18. In 2017, the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” together with the RNGO
“Russian Community of Crimea” and the Regional National and Cultural Autonomy “Belarusians
of Crimea” became part of the informal multicultural association “Assembly of Slavic Peoples of
Crimea”, created to implement the projects of inter-ethnic friendship and harmony. In 2019, the
“Assembly of Slavic Peoples of Crimea” signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation with
the Russian Cultural and Educational Society in Poland in order to exchange experience on
conducting public activities, and in 2021 – with a non-governmental organisation “Social and
Cultural Centre Crimean Community in the Republic of Belarus”. On the whole, throughout its
existence, the Assembly has signed more than 20 agreements on cooperation with the heads of
municipal settlements of urban districts of the Republic of Crimea as well as with universities and
public organisations. For several years in a row, members of the Assembly have been holding press
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conferences in the format of video conferences with national communities from other countries; for
instance, a video conference between Simferopol and Minsk on the topic “Belarusians of Crimea:
past, present, future” is held every year. Over the recent years, the “Assembly of Slavic Peoples of
Crimea” has firmly established itself in the public life of the peninsula, as it is involved, among
other things, in resolving the issues of regional importance. Our Community will continue to further
consider the issues of participation in various associations and unions, especially those that are
close to us in their profile and are also able to influence the resolution of general or private sociocultural
and other problems.
IV. Carrying out of cultural-mass events, festivals and commemorative actions in
Crimea
19. For more than six years of its existence, the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of
Crimea” has organised and carried out a variety of interesting cultural events aimed at the
promotion of Ukrainian culture in Russian Crimea. The most striking of them is the Festival of
Ukrainian Culture “Obzhinki”6, a festival of harvest that has been held in Crimea annually since
2017. Residents and guests of Crimea take part in collective dances and competitions with pleasure
and sing everyone’s favourite Ukrainian folk songs. Various on-stage performance groups from all
over Crimea participate in the festival: folklore ensemble “Krinichenka”, dance and vocal ensemble
“Belogorye”, choir “Radonitsa”, vocal group “Kumushki” and many others. Also, the festival is
supported by representatives of authorities. As usual, the State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations
of the Republic of Crimea and the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “House of
Peoples’ Friendship” take part in the organisation of this event along with the RNGO “Ukrainian
Community of Crimea”.
20. Members of the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” actively participate in
other cultural and educational events, campaigns and projects contributing to the overall
harmonisation of inter-ethnic relations in Crimea on a regular basis. These includes the congress of
Ukrainian compatriots living abroad7, which has been held annually since 2017. We hope that after
Ukrainians coming from different countries of the world get to see with their own eyes and learn the
truth about life on the peninsula, they will be able to share with their compatriots, upon returning
home, how ethnic Ukrainians actually live in Russian Crimea.
21. Every year, members of the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” hold various
events to perpetuate the memory of the great Ukrainian literary and cultural figures, they lay
6 Russian Community of Crimea official website, “Festival of Ukrainian Culture ‘Obzhinki – 2017’ took place in
Crimea”, 28 August 2017 (Annex 989); Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0, “Annual Festival of Ukrainian culture ‘Obzhinki-
2019’ was held in Simferopol”, 2 September 2019 (Annex 1008).
7 Rossiyskaya Gazeta, “Ukrainians from all over the world have come to Crimea”, 2 October 2018 (Annex 991).
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flowers at the monuments of famous Ukrainian writers and poets, organise and take part in creative
evenings, seminars, exhibitions and conferences dedicated to the works of Taras Shevchenko8,
Lesya Ukrainka9, Mikhail Kotsyubinsky10, Ivan Franko, Stepan Rudansky. Crimean schoolchildren
and students take an active part in these events, recite poetry in the Ukrainian language and perform
folk songs and Ukrainian-style dances. For instance, students of the Department of Ukrainian
Philology of the CEPU, together with the head of the department Nina Fedorovna Grozyan, have
been constant and welcome guests at such cultural events.
22. The RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” constantly interacts with the
V.S. Roik Museum of Ukrainian Embroidery, the Crimean Ethnographic Museum and the Franko
Crimean Republican Universal Research Library. With these and other republican institutions of
culture, members of the Community hold local and all-Crimean events dedicated to Ukrainian
writers and artists, memorable dates and events that are significant to the Ukrainian people. For
example, the Franko Library annually hosts a commemorative event dedicated to the Day of the
Liberation of Ukraine from the Nazi invaders. This year, with support of the RNGO “Ukrainian
Community of Crimea” and the “Assembly of Slavic Peoples of Crimea”, experts of the
Department of Regional Studies prepared the virtual historical overview “Echo of our memory”11.
23. The RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” carefully preserves and promotes the
memory of Vera Roik (I talked about the museum named in her honour earlier). Vera Roik was an
outstanding connoisseur of folk arts and crafts and created thousands of works in her lifetime, and
50 museums around the world keep her masterpieces. With assistance of the RNGO “Ukrainian
Community of Crimea”, memorial evenings12 and exhibitions dedicated to the unique master are
regularly held in Crimea. For instance, in April this year, the exhibition “The needle draws a stitch
to stitch”, dedicated to the 110th anniversary of Vera Roik, was organised at the Crimean
Ethnographic Museum of Simferopol13. Commemorative events, exhibitions, creative evenings and
concerts dedicated to Vera Roik will be held in Crimea during the entire 2021 anniversary year.
8 Crimea news, “The 202nd anniversary of the birth of Taras Shevchenko was celebrated in Crimea”, 10 March 2016
(Annex 951); Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0, “The 207th anniversary of the birth of Taras Shevchenko was celebrated in
Crimea”, 9 March 2021 (Annex 1044).
9 Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0, “Commemorative events dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the birth of Lesya Ukrainka
took place in Yalta”, 26 February 2021 (Annex 1043).
10 Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0, “A literary evening was held at the Kotsyubinskiy Museum in Simeiz”, 12 October 2020
(Annex 1033).
11 Franko Crimean Republican Universal Research Library official website, “Virtual historical overview ‘Echo of our
memory’”, 28 October 2020 (Annex 1141).
12 Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0, “Franko Library hosted the ‘Remembrance evening of Vera Roik’”, 9 October 2019 (Annex
1011).
13 Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0, “Exhibitions dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the famous Crimean embroiderer Vera
Roik were held in Simferopol”, 26 April 2021 (Annex 1046).
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V. Ukrainian-language information agency in Crimea
24. In 2020, the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” registered a unique
Information Agency “Krym segodnya” (“Krym syogodni”), which included the Ukrainian-language
magazine “Krym syogodni”, newspaper “Krymskiy visnik” and the Internet portal “Pereyaslavska
Rada 2.0”. The first issue of the magazine “Krym syogodnі” in the Ukrainian language, with a
circulation of 700 copies, was published in June 202014. To date, four issues of the magazine have
already been published15. Also in 2020, in Russian Crimea, with support of the Government of the
Republic of Crimea, the first issue of the Ukrainian-language newspaper “Krymskiy visnik” was
published16. The newspaper consists of eight pages and is made with the use of colourful illustrative
materials containing, in particular, interesting ethnographic information about the life of Crimea.
The newspaper contains materials about the life of Crimean Ukrainians collected by, among others,
members of the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea”. The Ukrainian-language magazine
“Krym syogodni” and newspaper “Krymskiy visnik” are distributed among members of the
Community, and individual copies are transferred to Crimean libraries, museums and educational
institutions of the peninsula.
25. In 2020, within the framework of the implementation of the State Programme of the
Republic of Crimea aimed at strengthening the unity of the Russian nation and ethno-cultural
development of the peoples of Russia “The Republic of Crimea is the territory of inter-ethnic
harmony”, at the expense of the republican budget, our Community received a subsidy to support
the functioning of the first Ukrainian-language network resource “Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0”. Today,
the Crimea’s Ukrainian-language information Internet resource covers socio-political and cultural
events from the life of the peninsula in Russian and Ukrainian. As the editor-in-chief of the entire
information agency, I can say that our readers, in addition to Crimeans, include members of
Ukrainian diasporas residing in Canada, Israel, Italy, Germany, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
and other countries. In the future, we also plan to publish materials in English, so that users from all
over the world could find out the latest news about the life and events of the Crimean peninsula.
VI. Crimea and the international community
26. In of the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of
Crimea”, which represents the interests of ethnic Ukrainians in Crimea, I regularly speak at various
international venues. For example, in 2020 and 2021, I took part in informal Arria-formula
14 Krym syogodni, No. 1 (1), 2020 (Annex 1112).
15 Krym syogodni, No. 2 (2), 2020 (Annex 1113); Krym syogodni, No. 3 (3), 2020 (Annex 1114); Krym syogodni, No. 1
(4), 2021 (Annex 1163).
16 Krymskiy visnik, No. 1, 2020 (Annex 1118); Krymskiy visnik, No. 2, 2020 (Annex 1124).
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meetings of members of the UN Security Council on the situation in Crimea. Such meetings are
held so that diplomats of different countries could hear about the real situation on the peninsula
directly from the residents of Crimea themselves, i.e. at first-hand.
27. Nevertheless, unfortunately, we, Crimeans, are not always given the opportunity to take
the floor at such international events dedicated to Crimea. Apparently, the organisers sometimes do
not want all points of view to be expressed, and Crimean residents tell the truth about their lives.
Thus, for example, Crimeans were not even invited to the similar Arria-formula meetings on
Crimea that were organised by Estonia. During an international forum on the issues of minorities,
held in Geneva in 2019, the Ukrainian delegation interfered with the speech of representatives of
the Crimean delegation in every possible way. Despite the fact that I was an accredited participant
and had every right to speak, the members of the Ukrainian delegation behaved in an indecent
manner: interrupted me, knocked hard with their name plates, drowning out my voice, insulted me
and in the end I was never allowed to speak. It is also a great sadness that at those international
venues where Crimeans do manage to take the floor, it nevertheless seems that the real stories, facts
and reliable information that we tell remain virtually unheard because not everyone wants to listen
and hear the truth.
28. There are certainly quite a few political and public figures from different countries of
the world who listen to, understand and support Crimeans, recognise the legitimacy of the 2014
Crimean referendum and the right of the Crimean peoples to determine their future. For example, in
2017, the International Association of Friends of Crimea was established with the aim to remove the
topic of Crimea from the political agenda of today’s international relations and to prevent its use for
inciting confrontations in the relations between countries and peoples. Every year, members of the
International Association of Friends of Crimea hold forums and conferences aimed at sharing
truthful information about Crimea and the lives of its peoples.
29. I personally know one member of the Coordinating Board of the Forum of Friends of
Crimea, Hendrik Weber, a Norwegian public figure, head of the non-governmental organisation
“People’s Diplomacy – Norway”. In 2019, Hendrik Weber wrote the book “Our Crimea. Coup
d’état or democratic solution?”, in which he shared with the world community his observations
collected during his repeated visits to Crimea17. In addition to notes about Crimea and its
inhabitants, as he saw them, Hendrik says that the decision on the reunification of Crimea with
Russia was taken at the nation-wide referendum held after the coup d’état in Kiev and meets the
wishes of the absolute majority of inhabitants of the peninsula. To date, the book has been
published in the Norwegian, German and Russian languages. This year, Hendrik Weber gave an
17 Crimean Digest, No. 3, 2020 (Annex 1272), p. 3.
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interview to our magazine “Krym syogodni” in which he talked about his experiences of his trips to
Crimea18.
30. I was also lucky to get acquainted with Finnish human rights advocate, Doctor of Social
and Political Sciences, Johan Bäckman, who came to Crimea several times, also as an observer
during the referendum in March 2014. Johan Bäckman takes part in various international forums
and conferences held in Crimea, comes forward with ideas for the development of Finnish-Crimean
relations, including in the cultural and tourism fields.
VII. Conclusion
31. The public activities of the RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” evoke a really
positive response among Ukrainians living in Crimea, other regions of Russia and even in Ukraine.
We see that our work is noted by ordinary people and we hope that it brings tangible, real benefits
to all Crimeans. First of all, of course, to ethnic Ukrainians living on our beloved peninsula.
32. Separately, I would like to note that the Community’s work on the promotion of
Ukrainian culture, the Ukrainian language, traditions and memorable dates of the Ukrainian people
– which takes the form of cultural-mass events, festivals, literary evenings and various campaigns,
publication of the Ukrainian-language periodicals, coverage of events on the Ukrainian-language
Internet portal – is carried out with full support of the Crimean authorities, including financial
assistance, at both national and municipal levels.
33. The RNGO “Ukrainian Community of Crimea” sets ambitious targets for the coming
years. Members of the Community will strive with even greater enthusiasm to preserve and increase
all the achievements aimed at the preserving, promotion and development of Ukrainian culture.
We are ready to implement more and more projects and generate new ideas so that our multi-ethnic
Crimea becomes even more cohesive and close-knit.
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in the
present witness statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 31 May 2021
18 Krym syogodni, No. 1 (4), 2021 (Annex 1163), pp. 30-31.
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Witness Statement of
, 31 May 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, , hold the position of of the
Municipal General Educational Institution “Collegium School” of the city of Alushta (the Republic
of Crimea, the Russian Federation; hereinafter – “Collegium School of Alushta” or “School”). I was
born and raised in the Zhitomir region (Ukraine), in 1972 I graduated from
Immediately after graduation from the institute, I moved to the village of Ilyinka of the
Krasnoperekopsky district (Crimea), taking a and
in a secondary general educational school. I was appointed to
(formerly
.
2. Given my many years of working experience
, in the present witness statement I provide information about the process
of transition to the Russian language of education in our School after Crimea became part of the
Russian Federation and also about the organisation of the study of the Ukrainian language and
Ukrainian literature in our educational institution at present time.
3. The Collegium School was opened during the period when Crimea was part of
Ukraine, namely in 1998, as the Alushta Teaching and Educational Complex of I-III levels with the
Ukrainian language of education. The school was established on the basis of a kindergarten1; in the
year of its opening only two first grades were formed. In the following years, the number of the
School’s students gradually increased and, by 2002, all grades were packed. It was originally
planned that the location of the School in the building of the kindergarten would be temporary. The
first few years after the opening of the School, all of us – the administration, teaching staff,
students’ parents and students themselves – were waiting for the School to be provided with its own
new premises. However, this never happened. The School Organising Committee had repeatedly
sent letters, applications, requests to the Department of Education of Alushta, the Alushta City
Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, to the attention of the Deputy Chairman of the
1 Ukraine, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Decision of the Executive Committee of the Alushta City Council “On
approval of the Charter of the Alushta Ukrainian Collegium” No. 588, 14 August 1998 (Annex 769).
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2
Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and even to the attention of the
President of Ukraine. In the end, the issue of providing the Collegium School with its own new
building was never resolved and the School continued to operate in the building of the former
kindergarten.
4. During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, educational activity in the
Collegium School of Alushta was carried out in the Ukrainian language. The Russian language was
studied as a separate subject and Russian literature – as part of world literature. After the
reunification of Crimea with Russia, in accordance with the choice of the parents (legal
representatives) of students, educational activity in our School began to be carried out in the
Russian language with the subjects “Ukrainian Language” and “Ukrainian Literature” being
retained for grades from 1 to 11. Today, in accordance with the Curriculum of the educational
institution2 and on the basis of applications of the student’ parents, absolutely all students of our
School study the native (Ukrainian) language and native (Ukrainian) literature.
5. The very process of transition to the Russian language of education in our School
took place as follows. After the referendum of 2014, we did not notice any changes: educational
activity in our School throughout the whole 2013/2014 academic year, as before, was carried out in
the Ukrainian language. In the summer of 2014, meetings for the parents on the issues of the
languages of education were conducted. The administration and teaching staff of the School
explained to students’ parents that they had the right to choose any language out of the three state
languages of the Republic of Crimea (Ukrainian, Russian or Crimean Tatar) in which they want
their children to be taught. The regulation on languages of education of the Collegium School of
Alushta provides for the organisation of education in native languages on the basis of applications
from the parents (legal representatives) of students3. Consequently, on the basis of applications of
the parents (legal representatives) of students, already in the new 2014/2015 academic year, all
grades of the Collegium School of Alushta, without any exception, were transferred to the Russian
language of education.
6. At the same time, no parents expressed the desire to have education in the Ukrainian
language preserved. The School was forced to adjust and provide education in the Russian language
in accordance with the will of the students’ parents. Given the fact that, since its opening, the
School had operated as an educational institution with the Ukrainian language of education, it was
naturally easier for us to continue to carry out education in the Ukrainian language, at least for
2 Collegium School of Alushta, Curriculum for 2020/2021 academic year (Annex 738).
3 Collegium School of Alushta, Regulation on languages of education, 2015 (Annex 675).
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students in grades from 1 to 9. But, again I would like to reiterate that no one wanted to be taught in
the Ukrainian language. Perhaps, such a unanimous decision was due to the fact that all students of
our School were Russian-speaking and many spoke the Russian language outside the classes.
Perhaps this was also because the Russian language, which had already been used in the ordinary
life by the overwhelming part of the population of the Crimean peninsula, received the status of the
state language in Crimea, which meant that it was officially established as a means of linguistic
communication in the exercise of powers by state and local authorities as well as in other areas.
Moreover, the Russian language had been studied as a subject since the founding of the School, so,
even in families with Ukrainian roots, the transition to the Russian language of education was not
perceived negatively.
7. It should also be noted that during the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, not
only ethnic Ukrainians studied in our School, but also Russians, Crimean Tatars, Armenians as well
as representatives of other ethnicities, who came to us on purpose as they had made a conscious
choice in favour of education in the Ukrainian language. Until 2014, Crimeans lived in another state
and, for obvious reasons, saw the advantage in having a good command of the Ukrainian language.
8. I can assume that today the choice in favour of the Russian language of education is
also motivated by the desire of children to continue their studies in higher educational institutions
not only of Crimea, but also of other cities of Russia. In recent years, graduates of our School have
increasingly chosen different universities in Krasnodar, Moscow and St. Petersburg. I know only a
few cases when our School graduates entered Ukrainian universities after 2014: one graduate each
in 2014 and 2015. I also know that today, out of all students of the School, only one student is
planning to enter a higher educational institution in Ukraine in the future.
9. In the period from 2014 to the present, the Collegium School of Alushta has not received
a single application or proposal from the students’ parents to resume education in the Ukrainian
language. Perhaps the parents are satisfied with the fact that the School has retained the subjects
“Ukrainian Language” and “Ukrainian Literature”, which are still studied from grades 1 to 11.
During the lessons in these subjects, students read, write and speak in the Ukrainian language. The
classics of Ukrainian literature in the Ukrainian language are available at the school library. The
subjects “Ukrainian language” and “Ukrainian Literature” are included in graduation certificates on
a mandatory basis. When the subjects “Ukrainian Language” and “Ukrainian literature” are studied
in primary school, new study guides of the “Prosveshchenie” publishing house4, prepared and
4 Russian publishing house specialising in educational and pedagogical literature.
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published in Russia5, are used. The other grades use study guides that were published during the
Ukrainian period as well as the exemplary educational programmes “Ukrainian Language” and
“Ukrainian Literature”, developed with support of the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of
the Republic of Crimea.
10. Students of our School regularly participate and win prizes in Olympiads in the
Ukrainian language and literature, organised in Crimea annually within the framework of the All-
Russian Olympiad for schoolchildren6.
11. During the transition period, the number of students in our School practically did not
change. The migration of students, for reasons related to different life circumstances, certainly has a
place: someone leaves, someone arrives, for example, due to changes in the place of residence or
place of work of the parents. I am not aware of any exodus of children from the School in
connection with moving to Ukraine because of the change in the language of education. I only
know about one female student whose relatives lived in Kiev, so she planned to enter university in
Kiev and eventually moved there after the 9th grade. In recent years, children from different regions
of Russia have come to study here, including from Moscow and the Moscow Region, Sochi,
Vladikavkaz, Ulan-Ude. Children who have never studied the Ukrainian language come to us and
start learning it from scratch. Children who have moved to Crimea from Ukraine, namely from
Lugansk, Donetsk, Gorlovka, Dnepropetrovsk, Kherson and the Kharkov region, also study in our
School.
12. In 2013, about 250 students studied at our School; in 2018, the number of students,
as compared to 2013, increased by about 100 people. In the annex to the present witness statement,
I attach a table reflecting the dynamics of increase in the number of students in our School as well
as up-to-date information on the number of students studying the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian
literature at present7.
13. Over the past seven years, teaching staff of the School has generally remained the
same, with the exception of those who have retired or moved to another region of Crimea or
beyond. Teachers, who taught during the Ukrainian period, have switched to the Russian language
5 Collegium School of Alushta, Photographs of study guides on the Ukrainian language and literature published by the
Russian publishing house “Prosveshchenie” (Annex 1150).
6 Collegium School of Alushta, Certificates of achievement of winners and runners-up of the municipal stage of the All-
Russian Olympiad for schoolchildren of the 2020/2021 academic year in the Ukrainian language and literature (Annex
737).
7 Collegium School of Alushta, Statistical data on number of students studying between 2012/2013 academic year and
2020/2021 academic year (Annex 736).
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of education and continue to work at the School to this day. Teachers of “Ukrainian Language” and
“Ukrainian Literature” continue to work at our School in their specialties as usual.
14. The ethnographic museum “Bereginya” (Bereginya is the name of an East Slavic
tutelary deity), devoted to the culture and everyday life of various peoples living in Crimea, has
been operating at our School since the School was founded. The main display of the museum
consists of exhibits that convey the distinctive flavour of unique Ukrainian culture: various
household items, kitchenware, tools, musical instruments, embroidered with ornaments and patterns
fabrics, towels, national clothes have been collected and donated to the museum for many years8.
The collection of the school museum continues to grow to this day.
15. It should be noted that the ethnic composition of our School is quite diverse – we
have not only Ukrainians and Russians, but also Crimean Tatars, Bulgarians, Armenians, Greeks
and Jews. We are tolerant of all languages, many of our school events are held in Russian and
Ukrainian as well as in Crimean Tatar. For instance, at the assembly devoted to Knowledge Day on
1 September, the three state languages of the Republic of Crimea are spoken. Every year, our
School celebrates International Mother Language Day. During the festive concert, students
representing different ethnicities present performances praising the native language, culture and
peoples’ friendship.
16. In terms of extracurricular activities, other events are held at our School to foster the
interest of students in the Ukrainian language, customs and traditions of the Ukrainian people. For
example, every autumn, the celebration called “Kalina – Nasha Bereginya” takes place at our
School9. The celebration is held in the Ukrainian language and children, dressed up in national
Ukrainian costumes, read poetry, sing songs, perform Ukrainian folk dances. It is our long-standing
tradition that our students annually plant the seedlings of viburnum, which is considered one of the
national symbols of the Ukrainian people, in the courtyard of the School.
17. Every year, on the National Unity Day10, students of our School participate in festive
events taking place at the city level. Concerts, contests, performances and fairs are held on the
central square of Alushta, during which our children participate in embroidery master classes, read
poems, sing songs in the native language, present the display of our school museum “Bereginya” at
the thematic sections of the “National Culture” exhibition.
8 Collegium School of Alushta, Ethnographic museum “Bereginya” (Annex 1231).
9 Alushta 24, “‘Kalina – Nasha Bereginya’ festival was held at the Municipal Educational Institution Collegium School
of the city of Alushta”, 27 October 2017 (Annex 979).
10 National Unity Day is a Russian public holiday, celebrated on 4 November.
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18. The city library of Alushta occasionally hosts events dedicated to the works of Taras
Shevchenko, Lesya Ukrainka, Mikhail Kotsyubinskiy, during which students of our School read
poems and take part in the contests on the knowledge of the works of the Ukrainian writers.
19. Thus, after the transition to the Russian educational space, students of our School
have continued, as before, to study the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian literature, to learn and
absorb Ukrainian culture, customs, traditions of the Ukrainian people through folk songs, dances,
the works of Ukrainian writers and poets. As far as I can see, Ukrainian culture and the Ukrainian
language in Crimea not only do not experience any pressure or restrictions, but, on the contrary, are
always only sincerely welcomed both within the walls of our School and across the peninsula.
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in the
present witness statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 31 May 2021
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Witness Statement of ,
31 May 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
1. I, , was born in 1956 in the village of Uva of the
Udmurt Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. A year after my birth, my parents, being ethnic
Ukrainians, moved to Crimea, where I grew up and lived all my life. Since 1985, I have lived in the
village of Mikhailovka of the Nizhnegorsky district of Crimea; I am a , but
I have been fascinated with literature since childhood, I write poetry, for some time I
At the present time, I write poems,
songs in the Ukrainian and Russian languages, take part in various cultural events dedicated to
Ukrainian literary and art figures, and I am of the Regional Non-Governmental
Organisation “Ukrainian Community of Crimea”.
2. As I have already mentioned, I am an ethnic Ukrainian, I was born and raised in a
Ukrainian-speaking family. In the present witness statement, I was asked to talk about how, in my
opinion, Ukrainian culture is developing in Crimea today, what conditions ethnic Ukrainians live in,
what opportunities they have to foster and preserve Ukrainian ethnic identity on the peninsula and
whether I know about any cases of suppression towards Ukrainians or the Ukrainian language after
2014.
3. I would like to note right away that I personally have not seen any suppression or
infringement towards Ukrainians, the Ukrainian language or Ukrainian culture on the peninsula
since Crimea became part of Russia. Our village Mikhailovka of the Nizhnegorsky district is home
to quite a large number of ethnic Ukrainians, but also to many local residents, who consider Russian
to be their native language. During the period when Crimea was part of Ukraine, I myself, being a
Ukrainian, grew up in a Ukrainian-speaking family, but at school and then at college I studied in the
Russian language and later worked in the editorial office that published a newspaper in the Russian
language. Both before and after 2014, the residents of our village have communicated with each
other, just as they do today, in the Ukrainian and Russian languages to the same extent. Should you
start a conversation in the Ukrainian language in public settings, in transport, in shops, then you will
definitely be answered in Ukrainian. Very often you can hear how local residents switch from
Russian to Ukrainian and vice versa in ordinary, everyday communication.
4. As a member of the “Ukrainian Community of Crimea”, I regularly take part in
various cultural events, evenings dedicated to famous Ukrainian writers, poets and cultural figures.
And I can say that after 2014 the number of admirers, lovers and enthusiasts of Ukrainian literature,
Ukrainian decorative arts, crafts and creativity has not decreased. Crimean libraries and houses of
Translation
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2
culture regularly organise conferences, lectures, literary evenings and commemorative events
focused on preserving and developing Ukrainian national identity1.
5. Unfortunately, I have to admit that many houses of culture in Crimea were in a state
of decline until 2014, for example, in such rural settlements of the Nizhnegorsky district as
Sadovoe, Ivanovka, Listvennoe; the premises, in which creative ensembles and groups were
located, had not been repaired for a long time, were in critical condition and therefore were not fully
used. Nevertheless, after Crimea became part of Russia, all houses of culture have been repaired
and restored at the expense of budgetary funds and comfortable conditions have been created for the
convenience of creative groups, employees of the houses of culture and local residents.
6. Today in Crimea folk vocal and dance ensembles, associations and creative groups
sing songs of various peoples living in Crimea, perform folk dances and take part in festive
concerts, festivals and contests. Performances with everyone’s beloved Ukrainian folk songs and
dances take place at every event. For instance, the Nizhnegorsky vocal ensemble “Leisya Pesnya”
led by Olga Nazirova regularly performs a concert programme, also in the Ukrainian language. The
Folk Dance Ensemble “Mozaika” led by Natalia Akimenko has been functioning at the
Zhelyabovsky Rural Culture House since 1998. Children of various age groups from the said
ensemble perform choreographic compositions based on folk dances of the inhabitants of Crimea on
a regular basis. Ukrainian folk dances are included in programme of their every performance2.
Creative ensembles from all over Crimea, whose repertoire always includes Ukrainian-style songs
and dances, come to the festival of Ukrainian culture “Obzhinki”, which annually gathers hundreds
of people.
7. With support of the local authorities, books in the Ukrainian language are published in
Crimea, the Ukrainian-language newspaper “Krymskiy visnik” and magazine “Krym syogodni” are
published every few months. Only a short time ago, with support of the State Committee for Interethnic
Relations of the Republic of Crimea, at the expense of the republican budget, the collection
of my poems in the Ukrainian language “Lines like the Patterns of an Embroidered Towel” [original
in Russian and Ukrainian] was published3. The said collection, consisting of poems, dedication
poems and impromptu poems, is dedicated to the works of Ukrainian embroiderer Vera Sergeevna
Roik.
8. I always say that I am a poet not by profession, but by the state of soul. I started to
write back at school, later my poems began to be published in the local Crimean Russian-language
newspapers: “Svobodnaya Territoriya” (Dzhankoy), “Kafa” (Feodosia), “Nizhnegorye” (formerly
called “Trudovaya Slava”) (Nizhnegorsky district), in the magazine “Niva” (Simferopol). Several
1 Zhelyabovsky Rural Culture House official website, “Days of the Ukrainian people’s culture at the Zhelyabovsky
Rural Culture House”, 10 March 2021 (Annex 1160).
2 Zhelyabovsky Rural Culture House official website, Ukrainian folk dance “Svyatkoviy nastriy” by the ensemble
“Mozaika”, 24 May 2021 (Annex 1162).
3 N. Ryndich, Lines like the Patterns of an Embroidered Towel: Poems, Songs, Dedications, Gasprinsky Media Centre,
Simferopol, 2020 (Annex 1111).
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times my poems were published in the Ukrainian-language newspaper “Krymskaya Svetlitsa”.
Today, I have the opportunity to publish my literary works in the newspaper “Krymskiy visnik” and
the magazine “Krym syogodni”, which are published in the Ukrainian language, as well as in other
Russian-language periodicals.
9. Indeed, a landmark for my creative activity was a meeting with Vera Sergeevna Roik
in 2010. Already then, I was a long-time fan of her. Impressed by my acquaintance with the
legendary Ukrainian embroiderer, I began to write poetry in the Ukrainian language on the theme of
embroidery and Ukrainian culture in general. It is these themes that are reflected in the collection of
poems “Lines like the patterns of an embroidered towel”, which was published in 2020.
10. In my works, dedicated to Vera Sergeevna Roik, I praise her life and works and, as a
result, I even began to be called her poetic biographer. I was personally acquainted with the son of
Vera Sergeevna, Vadim Mikhailovich Roik, who put a lot of efforts to keep the memory of his
mother alive. In Simferopol, in addition to the Vera Roik Museum of Ukrainian Embroidery, there
is a square named after her and there are memorial plaques installed on the house where Vera
Sergeevna lived and on the building of Gymnasium No. 9. Members of the “Ukrainian Community
of Crimea” help Vera Roik’s relatives and friends in perpetuating the memory of the outstanding
embroiderer. For example, with support of the Assembly of Slavic Peoples of Crimea, which also
includes the “Ukrainian Community of Crimea”, a street in Simferopol will be named in honour of
Vera Roik and a monument to Vera Roik is also planned to be installed.
11. This year, with support of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Crimea, a series of
anniversary events dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the birth of Vera Roik is organised in
Crimean museums, libraries and educational institutions. With pleasure, I participate in such events,
where I have the opportunity to recite my poems in the Ukrainian language and listen to the
performances of other participants.
12. For example, in May of this year, I took part in a literary evening dedicated to the
memory of Vera Roik, which took place on the territory of the recreation centre “Mechta” in
Gurzuf. In the premises of its main building, a memorial room named after Vera Roik was created,
where the works of this talented craftswoman, photographs, personal belongings, a unique
collection of thimbles as well as letters, drawings, paintings and other valuable exhibits are
exposed4.
13. In addition to poems, I also write songs in the Ukrainian language. As a result of my
creative cooperation with composers Alexander Mishustov and Natalia Yaksa, tens of songs were
written, some of which on the theme of love for the native land were collected in the “Blossom, My
Nizhnegorye” songbook. At the present moment, I am working with Ukrainian composer Valerian
Stratutsa from St. Petersburg, I am mainly translating the texts of his songs into the Ukrainian
4 Recreation centre “Mechta” official website, Museum of Vera Roik (Annex 1151).
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language; he wrote music for several of my poems so that the poems consequently became songs
and started to play out in fresh colours.
14. In general, I would like to emphasise that Ukrainian culture was, is and will always
be in Crimea. In my opinion, in order for the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian identity to remain
and continue to develop, it is necessary to educate the younger generation accordingly, to generate
interest and a sense of pride in belonging to the Ukrainian people, to observe the customs and
traditions inherent in Ukrainian culture, to appreciate and take good care of Ukrainian cultural
heritage, to honour the memory of Ukrainian writers, poets, artists, musicians. And it seems to me
that there are all conditions for this in Crimea. Most importantly, there are people who devote all
their time and all their efforts to this and try, out of the best intentions, to preserve, develop and
increase everything that is so valued by Crimeans who consider Ukrainian culture and the Ukrainian
language to be their native.
I hereby confirm that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the information contained in the
present witness statement is accurate.
Signature: /signed/
Full name:
Date: 31 May 2021
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Annex 19
Witness Statement of , 9 June 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
9 June 2021
I, , have acted as Muslims of Crimea
since 20133 and the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea
since 2018,4 hereby declare as follows.
1. Introduction
1. In this witness statement, I will give explanations on a number of issues relating to the activities of
the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
(hereinafter the “SDMC” or the “Spiritual Directorate”), the Council of Crimean Tatars under
the Head of the Republic of Crimea (hereinafter the “Council of Crimean Tatars” or the
“Council”), the functioning of Crimean Tatar and Muslim religious and educational institutions,
and measures taken to support the Crimean Tatar people in Crimea before and after 2014.
2. This witness statement is based on my own knowledge and recollection of events associated with
the above issues and the documents referred to below. Where I make a statement based on any
information or belief, I will state that in my witness statement and cite the source of such
information or belief.
3. Information concerning my education and professional experience is set out in an annex hereto.5
2. Activities of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Crimea (and its cooperation with
the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People6)
4. My cooperation with the Spiritual Directorate began in 2003 when I started
1 Hajji is an honorific title given to a Muslim who has made a religious pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca and Medina – the centres
of Islam.
3 Elected by the decision of the Council of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Crimea at the 5th Session of the Qurultay
of Muslims of Crimea.
4 See Decree of the Head of the Republic of Crimea No. 93-U “On establishing the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head
of the Republic of Crimea”, 29 March 2018 (Annex 112), Appendix 1.
5 CV of , 4 April 2017 (Annex 1268).
6 Organisation is recognised as an extremist in the Russian Federation.
7 Madrasa is a Muslim spiritual educational institution.
Translation
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1
2
5. Since its inception, the Spiritual Directorate has sought to unite Muslims of Crimea under Islamic
studies and traditional religious practice. The Spiritual Directorate has engaged in educational,
outreach and human rights activities, fought against organisations propagating non-traditional
(radical) Islam, and provided humanitarian aid to those in need.
6. As concerns cooperation between the Spiritual Directorate and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar
People (hereinafter the “Mejlis”), it should be noted that the organisations carried out their
activities in two different fields – religious and political ones. It is therefore impossible to speak
about common goals and common methods. However, considering that most Crimean Tatars are
Muslims, both organisations sought to protect the interests of one group of people.
7. From the outset, the Mejlis has positioned itself as a link between the Ukrainian state authorities
and the Crimean Tatar people, assumed the role of the centralised management of financial flows
(allocated to solve problems of Crimean Tatars) coming both from abroad and the Ukrainian state
authorities, claimed to be performing a special role in addressing land, housing, and other
settlement issues.
8. The Spiritual Directorate worked together with the Mejlis in solving matters relating to religion
and Muslim spiritual education. The efforts were coordinated by the Mufti of Muslims of Crimea,
Hajji Emirali Seitibraimovich Ablaev, who joined the Mejlis as prescribed by its statute, but even
in the Mejlis he remained a religious figure above all. As Emirali Seitibraimovich has himself
repeatedly told me, members of the Mejlis involved Emirali Seitibraimovich only insofar as
religious matters were concerned.
9. As for me, I stay rather far from politics, but as a member of the Crimean Tatar people, I cannot
name a single overarching issue that this organisation has solved over 20 years of its existence.
Neither land nor housing issues were resolved. Not a single legislative act was adopted to
rehabilitate the Crimean Tatar people. Methods employed by the Mejlis’ leaders came down to
issuing ultimatums to the state authorities and then organising rallies and protests if no desired
result was obtained. The Mejlis was not willing to cooperate with the state authorities in a
meaningful and systematic manner. Naturally, unlike the Mejlis’ top leaders, some leaders of local
Mejlises were able to help solve local issues on the ground on their own initiative. Although those
efforts were primarily premised on the personality and personal initiative of such people, were not
systematic and sufficient in terms of the scale of problems that the Crimean Tatar people had. We
were not provided with that financial support that we expected from the Mejlis, though they were
able to provide it owing to considerable financial flows from Turkish partners.
10. As far as I am aware, one of the reasons behind that failure to provide necessary support was that
the Mejlis’ leaders inefficiently managed funds received from foreign partners to address problems
of the Crimean Tatar people. I have no written evidence in support of the cases mentioned below
and cannot assert that these actually took place given that the Ukrainian state authorities did not
perform any investigations into them. However I will refer below to some examples that I have
been informed about by people personally involved in these events.
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11. As I have learnt from one of the directors of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency
(TIKA), in the 2000s, TIKA allocated funds to the Mejlis to be used for the purchase of housing
property for the Crimean Tatar people as part of the project “1,000 Houses for Crimean Tatars”.
Families in need were planned to be allocated USD 5,000 each so they would purchase housing
property on their own. However, as I have learnt from the people who received financial aid, instead
of giving these people the full amount, members of the Mejlis responsible for the project gave the
population USD 2,000–3,000, while recording in report sheets that the full amount was transferred.
No criminal cases were opened into the misappropriation of funds, and Crimean Tatars’ reluctance
to come into direct conflict with Mustafa Dzhemilev played an important role in this.
12. When I was studying in Ankara, I learnt directly from Ahmed Ihsan Qirimli about another example
of how members of the Mejlis used funds allocated to address problems of the Crimean Tatar
people. In the late 1990s, Ahmed Ihsan Qirimli, a prominent Crimean Tatar figure, a physician by
training, who previously headed the Ministry of Tourism of Turkey, several times attempted to
construct a maternity hospital for Crimean Tatars in Crimea. At first, Ahmed Qirimli transferred
funds to members of the Mejlis a few times, but no construction commenced; after that, he started
sending actual construction materials, but corrupt top leaders of the Mejlis sold them too. Finally,
after many attempts, in the early 2000s, the maternity hospital in Pionerskoe was constructed and
commissioned, but had no sewage system, in view of which it was never used for its designated
purpose and is still closed.
3. Activities of the Mejlis in the transition period
13. Initially, after the Republic of Crimea acceded to the Russian Federation, members of the Mejlis
intended to cooperate with the Russian Federation. On 29 March 2014, the second extraordinary
session of the 6th Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People took place,8 and, in pursuance of the
Qurultay’s Resolution, the Mejlis – though not recognising political, legal, and economic changes
in Crimea in 2014 – resolved not to obstruct but rather to assist in solving “issues relating to the
settlement of the Crimean Tatar people under the existing circumstances following changes that
took place in Crimea”.9 At that time, Crimean Tatars entertained grave doubts driven by a historical
lack of trust in Moscow. However, members of the Mejlis – mostly due to the efforts of Refat
Chubarov who succeeded in persuading them not to follow the opposition-minded Mustafa
8 Qurultay is a congress of the Crimean Tatar People. As far as I know, in 1917, the Crimean Muslim Executive Committee
convened the 1st Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People. After the congress, all powers of the Executive Committee were
transferred to the Qurultay. In consequence, the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People united the functions of secular and
religious bodies of Crimean Tatars at the time. In the early 1990s, the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims (“SDM”) of Crimea
separated from the SDM of the European part of the USSR and Siberia and became an independent organisation. From that
moment until now, the Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea, which is convened once in five years, has been the supreme authority
of the SDM of Crimea. The Muftiyat of the SDM of Crimea and the Mufti manage religious matters in between sessions of
the Qurultay. Besides, since 1991 and also every five years, the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People has been convened, at
which members of the Mejlis were elected until recently, with the Mejlis acting as an executive body in between sessions of
the Qurultay. Therefore, I understand that, since the 1990s, the Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea and the Qurultay of Crimean
Tatars have been two different associations complementing each other in secular and religious areas.
9 Website of the Mejlis, Decision of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People “On Addressing Practical Matters Relating to the
Settlement of the Crimean Tatar People under Actual Circumstances of Crimea”, 1 April 2014 (Annex 1249).
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Dzhemilev – still found it possible to assume a constructive stance and to begin cooperating with
the Russian authorities.
14. Moreover, delegates of the Qurultay entitled the Mejlis to choose candidates to work in republican
executive authorities. In particular, the Mejlis gave its consent that the following representatives
become members of the Council of Ministers of Crimea:
a. Lenur Islyamov as First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of
Crimea;
b. Zaur Smirnov as Chairman of the Committee on Ethnicities and Deported Citizens of the
Republic of Crimea.10
15. Despite the decisions to cooperate with the Russian state authorities adopted by the majority of
delegates of the Qurultay, Mustafa Dzhemilev continued opposing such cooperation and called it
“collaborationism”.11 Then, in around July 2014, he was joined by Refat Chubarov who suddenly
took a completely new position that was polar opposite of the position approved at the Qurultay
and originally advanced and maintained by himself.12
16. Lenur Islyamov, appointed to the office of First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, in
the first months in office, demonstrated his willingness to solve problems of the Crimean Tatar
people, cooperating with the Russian state authorities and abiding by Russian law.13 In late May
2014, Lenur Islyamov was removed from his office of First Deputy Chairman of the Council of
Ministers of the Republic of Crimea. The quality of his work was publicly criticised, including by
Crimean Tatars.14 After that, abandoning the interests of the entire Crimean Tatar people, he left
10 Website of the Mejlis, Decision of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People “On Addressing Practical Matters Relating to
the Settlement of the Crimean Tatar People under Actual Circumstances of Crimea”, 1 April 2014 (Annex 1249).
11 See TSN, “Dzhemilev spoke about problems at the Qurultay and work with gangsters in the Crimean authorities”, 1 April
2014 (Annex 899).
12 In March 2014, Refat Chubarov was willing to discuss Crimea-related events with President Putin whom he called “the
president of the country that has established its legal framework here”. See Website of the Mejlis, “Head of the Mejlis: When
we see that it is necessary to show a clear and explicit will of the Crimean Tatar people, we will hold a referendum”, 29 March
2014 (Annex 1248). Already in July 2014, Refat Chubarov refused to recognise the status of the State Council of the Republic
of Crimea, “Of course, I don’t attend this State Council. Of course, I don’t work there. Of course, I don’t recognise it.” See
Krym.Realii, “Refat Chubarov: Federal Security Service of Russia banned me from entering my Homeland”, 7 July 2014
(Annex 907).
13 For instance, Lenur Islyamov: “First of all, it’s necessary now to put everyone’s mind at ease so that wives can calmly wait
for their husbands, so that children can safely play outdoors. And we’re lifting these concerns with the present authorities…I
think that Crimea’s leadership in the person of the Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov and the First Vice Prime Minister Rustam
Temirgaliev, and even the State Council, are giving us every opportunity to remove all those little things that can give rise to
problematic policies in the future”. See Kryminform, “Lenur Islyamov: Crimean Tatars should not remain indifferent to
processes taking place in Crimea”, 4 April 2014 (Annex 900). Lenur Islyamov: “When such a tectonic shift occurs, it takes a
certain time, certain trust. In general, any success is equal to the number of handshakes. We need to ‘shake hands’ because
we’re already a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, we need to live by the existing rules and not to be sulky with
anyone”. “Rehabilitation will certainly do a lot if it takes place. As a Crimean Tatar myself, I’ll be very grateful to the Russian
authorities that will do it” See TASS, “Acting Vice Prime Minister of Crimea: Crimean Tatars should be involved in Crimea’s
political life”, 4 April 2014 (Annex 902).
14 For example, State Council of the Republic of Crimea official website, “Edip Gafarov: the Crimean authorities are ready
to cooperate with Crimean Tatars and to address problems of the entire people rather than some of its representatives trying
to speak on its behalf”, 30 May 2014 (Annex 443).
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for Kherson (Ukraine) where, as far as I am aware, he created an illegal armed formation named
after Noman Çelebicihan,15 thereby bringing shame upon the name of our prominent compatriot,
Mufti of the Crimean Tatar People.
17. To cap it all, Lenur Islyamov, who has never been ultra-religious, publicly called for an armed
jihad – an armed struggle for the spread of Islam – at a press conference dedicated to the energy
blockade of the peninsula:
“We’re waiting for your children here. This is a liberation jihad for us. Yes, some of you
will shed blood, yes, some of you will die, but we need to fight! We’ll have to do it, at the
cost of blood of certain people as well.”16
18. For its part, the SDMC could not stay on the sidelines when Lenur Islyamov was engaged in a
destructive and clearly provocative activity. In January 2016, together with other religious figures
and public organisations involved in the All-Crimean Conference, we urged the Crimean Tatar
people to stay away from armed formations, declared the pseudo-jihad announced by Lenur
Islyamov non-compliant with the fundamentals of Islam, and adopted the following resolution:
“Calls to leave Motherland, go to the Kherson Region and join militant groups to
participate in pseudo-jihad contradict the interests of the Crimean Tatar people and
threaten their livelihood in their Motherland. We call on the Crimean Tatar youth not to
leave the land of their ancestors and not to join militant groups, not to yield to pseudo-
Islamic appeals, but rather to live and create in peace and unity in their Motherland.”17
19. Accordingly, despite original attempts to adopt a constructive stand, not only did some of the
Mejlis’ leaders and like-minded people leave the Crimean Tatar people face to face with their own
problems, but also hindered its own people from leading a normal human life in Crimea by calling
them to take illegal extremist action instead of normally and peacefully developing and working to
the benefit of our people.
15 In December 2020, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea found L.E. Islyamov guilty of organising a sabotage,
creating an illegal armed formation, and publicly calling for violating the territorial integrity of Russia (crimes under paras.
a, b of Part 2 of Article 281 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, Part 1 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the
Russian Federation (as amended by Federal Law No. 130-FZ of 5 May 2014), Part 2 of Article 280.1 of the Criminal Code
of the Russian Federation (see Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea official website, “The Supreme Court of the Republic
of Crimea reads out the sentence to L.E. Islyamov”, 10 December 2020 (Annex 1276)). On 8 April 2021, the Judicial Chamber
on Criminal Cases of the Third Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction upheld the sentence of the Supreme Court of the
Republic of Crimea in respect of L.E. Islyamov regarding the sabotage and the creation of the illegal armed formation. As for
charges under Part 2 of Article 280.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (public calls for violating the territorial
integrity of the Russian Federation using the mass media), the sentence was quashed in view of decriminalisation (see Official
website of the Third Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction, “The Third Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction examined
the legality of the sentence in respect of L.E. Islyamov”, 8 April 2021 (Annex 433)).
16 Komsomolskaya Pravda, “Inglourious extremists: How a runaway businessman wanted to ‘advance to Crimea’ but failed”,
14 January 2020 (Annex 1015).
17 TASS, “Spiritual Directorate of Muslims: Establishment of the Crimean Muftiyat outside the Peninsula is unacceptable”,
16 January 2016 (Annex 945).
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4. Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea
a. Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea and Qurultay of Crimean Tatars
20. In 2016, after the Mejlis was declared an extremist organisation and banned in the territory of the
Russian Federation, Refat Chubarov and Mustafa Dzhemilev made several attempts in 2018 to
convene the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People in order to re-elect members of the Mejlis in
Ukraine. However most delegates of the Qurultay were in Crimea and not only were they reluctant
to leave Crimea but, first of all, to take part in the congress convened by these people. Contrary to
popular false narratives that the delegates were not able to cross the border, the reasons behind their
reluctance to take part in such Qurultay were, in my view, that the Crimean Tatar people understood
that that idea was pointless and that there was no possibility or necessity to create a new Mejlis in
Ukraine when the vast majority of the Crimean Tatar people remained in Crimea. Besides, the
Mejlis’ destructive and clearly provocative and illegal activities and narratives of its former
members made most people repulse that initiative. Attempts to gather a quorum were futile to the
point that the “organisers” wanted to grant the status of delegates of the Qurultay to representatives
of Crimean Tatar diasporas abroad who had never been entitled to vote at previous Qurultays and
were not able to solve problems of Crimean Tatars in Crimea while being abroad.
21. Meanwhile, immediately after the Mejlis’ leaders fled to Ukraine, Eskender Bilyalov, Remzi
Ilyasov together with other former members of the Mejlis and leaders of other Crimean Tatar public
organisations, who remained in Crimea, attempted to unite the Crimean Tatar people under their
leadership but none of them turned out to be a leader strong enough to bring those endeavours to
fruition. The only person who could do that was the Mufti of Crimea, Hajji Emirali
Seitibraimovich, but he has never been a political person and did not want to become one for he is
a religious figure. However he resolved to assist political leaders in restoring the forms of
organisation of public life to which Crimean Tatars had grown accustomed in order to further
development and constructive work for the sake of addressing problems of Crimean Tatars.
22. Emirali Seitibraimovich proposed to use the forum of the Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea18 in order
to elect the most prominent persons in relevant fields (religion, culture, education, and others) who
would later become members of the Council of the Crimean Tatar People under the Head of the
Republic of Crimea. This strategy was not a novelty, and we followed suit of Noman Çelebicihan
when, in 1917, social and political organisations were chosen at the Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea
convened by religious figures in the person of the Crimean Muslim Executive Committee. This
method is fairly representational since most Crimean Tatars are Muslims and, accordingly, the
secular Qurultay and the religious Qurultay have the same audience and represent the interests of
the same people. Eventually created by the decision of the Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea, the new
institute becomes secular and cooperates with all Crimean Tatars irrespective of their religious
affiliation.
18 The creation of the Council was then legalised by Decree of the Head of the Republic of Crimea No. 93-U “On establishing
the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea”, 29 March 2018 (Annex 112).
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23. In turn, I think that it is the absence of support from religious leaders who enjoy respect and
authority with the entire Crimean Tatar people that may have been one of the reasons why the
former leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People failed in their attempts to organise the
“alternative” Qurultay in Kiev.19
b. Activities of the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of
Crimea
24. The activities of the Council of Crimean Tatars are grounded in the above-mentioned key areas:
religion, culture, education and others, with a specific member of the Council responsible for each
of them.
25. Before the introduction of measures aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus
infection (2019-nCoV) in Crimea, the Council met in person on a monthly basis. The agenda is
formed based on Crimean Tatars’ requests. The Council is headquartered in the centre of
Simferopol and its address is widely known among the population and can be easily found on the
Internet.20 Our secretary Lemara Sergeevna Selendeli is present in the headquarters every working
day and receives citizens and brings their issues to the notice of relevant members of the Council
(The Council also receives requests on a remote basis – by email). If members of the Council
cannot solve a certain matter on their own, the Mufti, as Deputy Chairman of the Council, can seek
assistance from the Chairman Sergey Valeryevich Aksyonov, Head of the Republic of Crimea.
26. In particular, members of the Council address the following problems and issues that are important
for the Crimean Tatar people:
a. Land and housing matters: the Council’s headquarters provides legal advice in order to
clarify issues on how to obtain and register title to land plots. Besides, the Council
contributes to the review of applications for constructing gas and water supply systems in
certain regions of the Republic of Crimea by the competent authorities;21
19 Despite the fact that, in November 2016, a congress of “Muslims of Crimea” who had left the peninsula after the Republic’s
admission to the Russian Federation was held in Ukraine, neither I, nor other members of communities of the SDMC
understand the idea behind the creation of the spiritual directorate of Muslims of Crimea outside the peninsula. That congress
resolved to establish the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, with Ayder Rustemov
elected as Mufti. However we do not recognise the legitimacy or efficiency of this structure. We do not understand what
objectives this organisation pursues, except for objectives to undermine the authority of those who stayed in Crimea with their
own people, and how this organisation can contribute to the resolution of problems of Crimean Tatars who are all here – in
their ancestral land. Besides, we have not observed any meaningful results of the organisation’s activities so far.
20 The address of the Council of Crimean Tatars for personal appointments, written requests (regular letters), email address,
telephone number via which one can make a personal appointment with lawyers (free of charge) or a member of the Council
of Crimean Tatars, are published on the official websites of cities of the Republic of Crimea. See, for example, the website of
the administration of Kerch: Official website of the city administration of the city of Kerch, “The Council of Crimean Tatars
of Crimea informs”, 19 October 2020 (Annex 1135); Feodosia: Official website of the city administration of Feodosia,
Information regarding submittal of applications with the Council of Crimean Tatars, 14 October 2020 (Annex 1133);
Dzhankoy: Official website of the city administration of Dzhankoy, Information regarding submittal of applications with the
Council of Crimean Tatars, 13 October 2020 (Annex 1131).
21 Letter from E.S. Ablaev, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea, to
the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea, No. 154-0114, 9 March 2021 (Annex 641), Letter from
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b. Issues on how to obtain benefits for people who were repressed for no reason and then
rehabilitated: the Council helps citizens seek clarifications regarding the implementation
of pension law, the recalculation of pensions, and the payment of compensations to the
rehabilitated people;22
c. Perpetuation of the memory of prominent people and heroes: the Council regularly helps
organise memorable events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of twice the Hero of the
Soviet Union Amet-Khan Sultan23 and seeks to have educational institutions named after
prominent figures and heroes of the Crimean Tatar people.24
27. Alongside the Council of the Crimean Tatar People, there is a number of public organisations
representing the interests of Crimean Tatars in the Republic of Crimea. The number of such
organisations has increased since the Republic of Crimea became part of the Russian Federation.
In the period immediately after 2014, the interregional public movement of the Crimean Tatar
people “Qirim” headed by Remzi Ilyasov and the regional public association and the Crimean Tatar
community “Inkishaf” headed by Eskender Bilyalov – have enjoyed the most widespread support
in Crimea. However their activities have been slightly on the decline over time. I believe that now
the State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea and the Council of the
Crimean Tatar People under the Head of the Republic of Crimea successfully protect the interests
of the Crimean Tatar People and solve their topical problems, ranging from culture and education
to land and housing issues. When local problems arise, they are efficiently solved by local Crimean
Tatar public organisations. This is also due to the fact that problems of our people are no longer
that large-scale at present, and land and housing matters have been resolved.
5. Measures taken in support of the restoration of historical justice, the political, social,
and spiritual revival of Crimean Tatars
28. Immediately after the Republic of Crimea became part of the Russian Federation, one of the most
important documents for the Crimean Tatar people – a decree on the political rehabilitation of the
E.S. Ablaev, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea, to the Chairman
of the State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea, No. 178-0114, 12 April 2021 (Annex 645).
22 For instance, in February–March 2021, we asked the Head of the Department of the Pension Fund of Russia for the Republic
of Crimea to inform the Council about specific features of the implementation of Russian pension law in the Republic of
Crimea and to recalculate pension amounts for a number of rehabilitated people and to pay them compensation. See Letter
from E.S. Ablaev, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea, to the Head
of the Department of the Pension Fund of Russia for the Republic of Crimea, No. 147-0114, 8 February 2021 (Annex 639),
Letter from E.S. Ablaev, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea, to
the Head of the Department of the Pension Fund of Russia for the Republic of Crimea, No. 156-0114, 9 March 2021 (Annex
642).
23 State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations and Deported Citizens of the Republic of Crimea, Minutes of the meeting on the
preparation and holding of events in the Republic of Crimea dedicated to the 100th anniversary since the birthday of twice
the Hero of the Soviet Union Amet-Khan Sultan, 26 November 2019 (Annex 492).
24 Letter from E.S. Ablaev, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea, to
the Governor of Sevastopol, No. 63-0114, 27 July 2020 (Annex 626), Letter from E.S. Ablaev, Deputy Chairman of the
Council of Crimean Tatars under the Head of the Republic of Crimea, to the Head of the Administration of the Dzhankoy
District of the Republic of Crimea, No. 62-0114, 27 July 2020 (Annex 627).
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Crimean Tatar People that we waited for 20 years when Crimea was part of Ukraine25 – was
adopted in April 2014. To implement that Decree, the Russian state authorities have taken the
following steps:
a. Reconstruction of the Seit-Settar Complex
29. Built in the 1850s by the head of Simferopol, Seit Settar Çelebi, the Seit-Setter Complex is
comprised of the building of the Mosque, a madrasa, and a number of administrative buildings and
is one of the most landmark sites for Crimean Muslims. In the 1990s, the Mosque underwent repair.
However, in 2006, the complex was resolved to be taken down and restored anew due to its
emergency state.26
30. At the time the Republic of Crimea became part of the Russian Federation, the reconstruction of
the Seit-Settar complex did not even start: the whole process was at the stage of design and
proceeded no further because it was impossible, among other things, to obtain approval documents
and construction permits.
31. Owing to the proactive attitude of the Head of the Republic of Crimea and with the help of the
Administration of Simferopol, necessary construction permits were obtained several weeks after
the SDMC had made the relevant request. After that, the disassembly and construction of buildings
of the Mosque, a madrasa and administrative buildings promptly began and were completed as
early as September 2016.27
Seit-Setter Complex after reconstruction28
25 Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 268 “On measures aimed at rehabilitation of Armenian, Bulgarian,
Greek, Crimean Tatar and German peoples and state support of their revival and development”, 21 April 2014 (Annex 63).
26 Krym.Realii, “Mosques of Crimea: Seit-Settar – revival after decades (photo gallery)”, 9 December 2018 (Annex 994).
27 State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations and Deported Citizens of the Republic of Crimea official website, “Solemn
opening of the Seit-Settar Mosque to be held in Crimea”, 8 September 2016 (Annex 468).
28 Avdet, “Seit-Settar Mosque was opened after a large-scale reconstruction in Aqmescit”, 11 September 2016 (Annex 959)
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b. Assistance in the Organisation of the Hajj
32. Assistance in the organisation of the Hajj is yet another example of a considerable input that the
Russian authorities have made to address urgent problems of Crimea’s Muslims.29 For instance, in
2014, when we missed the deadline for submitting documents to take part in the Hajj because of
the events which took place during the transition period, the Head of the Republic of Crimea, S.V.
Aksyonov, offered us help in collecting necessary documents in the shortest possible time.
33. Eventually, owing to that help, we managed to prepare documents within three weeks – whereas it
takes more than half a year under normal circumstances – and to submit them before the deadline.
Further, thanks to the assistance of the Head of the Republic of Crimea and the Administration of
the President of the Russian Federation, the cost of trip packages for a group of 150 pilgrims was
reduced almost by half.30
34. In the following years, the number of people taking part in the Hajj from Crimea only increased
and considerably exceeded the number of believers that had been able to make a Hajj before 2014.
c. Construction of the Cathedral Mosque
35. The decision to construct the Cathedral Mosque in Simferopol – an overwhelmingly important site
for Crimean Tatars and Muslims – was made back in the 2000s. Absent a building that can
accommodate all Muslims of Simferopol, major religious events were held from year to year in a
sports hall under conditions that were in no way suitable for prayer.
36. For all the time that we attempted to secure the construction of a mosque for Muslims of
Simferopol, the construction site was changed six times as construction permits were constantly
denied, the existing permits were withdrawn, and there were other circumstances that impeded the
construction of the mosque at the approved site.31 To attract attention to this problem, we even
organised a campaign “Every Crimean Tatar Brings a Stone” in 2008. The campaign met with a
very warm response: around 180 thousand stones were brought to the sixth site proposed for the
construction of the mosque (Yaltinskoe Highway). The stones filled the site to such an extent that
the matter of moving the construction to another site was no longer raised. Although, before 2014,
no practical steps were taken to solve this problem, except for a capsule laid as a symbol that the
construction commenced at Yaltinskoe Highway in 2011 when V.G. Dzharty, who greatly helped
us, was Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Crimea.
29 The Hajj is a pilgrimage to the holy Muslim cities of Mecca and Medina and one of the most significant events in the life
of a Muslim.
30 Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea official website, “Sergey Aksyonov met Muslims of Crimea who have
performed Hajj”, 13 October 2014 (Annex 448).
31 E.g., in October 2008, the Higher Economic Court of Ukraine satisfied an appeal of the Simferopol City Council against a
decision of the Economic Court of Crimea that obligated the Simferopol City Council to allocate a land plot at the address:
Simferopol, 22 Yaltinskaya Street for the construction of the Cathedral Mosque (see Crimean News Agency QHA, “Babenko:
Simferopol City Council won a lawsuit on the construction of the Cathedral Mosque in the Higher Commercial Court of
Ukraine”, 17 October 2008 (Annex 865)).
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37. The Mejlis did not assist in the construction of either the Cathedral Mosque or any other mosques.
Rather, as I have learnt from the Mufti, its leaders, acting out of personal mercenary motives,
suggested transferring funds allocated by Turkish sponsors for the construction of the Cathedral
Mosque through the organisation “Crimea Foundation” controlled by Mustafa Dzhemilev.
38. After Crimea acceded to the Russian Federation, we obtained all necessary permits and approval
documents pertaining to the construction of the Cathedral Mosque in less than a year. V.V. Putin,
President of the Russian Federation, took the construction under his personal control. Ultimately,
with the strong support from the regional authorities, including the Administration of Simferopol,
the State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations and Deported Citizens of the Republic of Crimea,
and R.I. Balbek, a people’s deputy of the State Duma, the construction of the mosque began in
September 2015.32 Now the construction is at its closing stages, with finishing works under way.
Painting works at the Cathedral Mosque, in which Turkish specialists were involved, were
suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic and resumed only in May of this year. According to
the design, the total area of the Cathedral Mosque in Simferopol will be 5.7 thousand m2 and the
capacity – up to 4 thousand people. The structure consists of two parts – the main building with a
dome and an inner courtyard with colonnades. The semi-basement floor is planned to have an area
where a ritual ablution is performed before Salah, as well as a museum and a library. The building
of the Spiritual Directorate and a guest house are being constructed in the territory adjacent to the
mosque.
Final construction stage of the Cathedral Mosque33
32 Rossiyskaya Gazeta, “Construction of the Cathedral Mosque began in Simferopol”, 25 September 2015 (Annex 931).
33 Rossiyskaya Gazeta, “Turkish specialists came to Crimea to paint the Cathedral Mosque”, 22 January 2020 (Annex 1016).
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Final construction stage of the Cathedral Mosque
6. Islamic education in Crimea
39. Between 2009 and 2013, I prepared study guides for madrasas at the Publication Department of
the SDMC, after which I continued to develop Islamic education in Crimea already as Deputy
Mufti. I can say from my experience that, after Crimea became part of the Russian Federation,
Islamic education has reached a whole new level. In particular, the Azov Madrasa became a
member of the Council for Islamic Education created in 2010 by representatives of the leading
Spiritual Directorates of Muslims of the Russian Federation.
40. The Council for Islamic Education encompasses spiritual educational institutions created by the
Spiritual Directorates of Muslims of the Russian Federation, develops and implements Islamic
educational standards at madrasas and higher educational institutions, conducts public
accreditation of spiritual educational institutions, reviews and develops balanced approaches and
strategies on how to protect Crimea’s Muslims from the influence of destructive sects, to counteract
extremism and terrorism, and searches for a public compromise both in Crimea and other regions
of the Russian Federation. In cooperation with members of the Council for Islamic Education, we
developed educational standards of secondary special (vocational) religious education and brought
educational programmes of all Crimean madrasas in compliance with the above standards.
41. After 2014, religious sites of worship were returned to the Spiritual Directorate, including the
Zincirli Madrasa, one of the oldest Islamic spiritual educational institutions where the Crimean
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Tatar spiritual elite was brought up.34 After the building of the Zincirli Madrasa is restored, it is
planned to open there a higher educational institution of Islamic education, with attempts to
establish such higher educational institutions in Crimea taken repeatedly throughout the Mufti’s
tenure as he has told me. Since the 2000s, the Spiritual Directorate had sought the Mejlis’ support
in the establishment of a higher educational institution of Islamic education, but our requests to
assist us in the transfer of the building of the Zincirli Madrasa were ignored.
42. After the Republic of Crimea acceded to the Russian Federation, in May 2015, the building of a
Muslim spiritual school that forms part of the Zincirli Madrasa was transferred to the Spiritual
Directorate.35 Almost the entire complex was handed over to our free use in May 2019.36 The
project of restoration of the Zincirli Madrasa is now being prepared with the assistance of the Head
of Crimea.
43. Until such a higher educational institution is opened, we assist in sending Muslims to study in
educational institutions in other regions of Russia. The most popular place Crimeans choose to
obtain higher theological education at is the Kazan Islamic University that provides scholarships
and accommodation to our students. Over the last six years, more than 150 people, including
personnel of the educational and outreach areas, staff of the Spiritual Directorate, have obtained
bachelor’s and master’s diplomas at the Kazan University. In my time, I have never seen that many
Crimeans obtaining higher education either in Turkey or Arabic countries as there are now
obtaining it in Kazan. Besides, our students have also attended advanced training courses at the
Moscow Islamic University.
7. Searches in spiritual educational institutions
44. In my understanding, one of Ukraine’s claims is that there were excessively intrusive searches in
Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian educational institutions, with teachers and employees of schools
persecuted for providing education to Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians. In support of its claims,
Ukraine, among other things, refers to extracts from my interviews. With that said, I find it
necessary to clarify that, immediately after Crimea acceded to the Russian Federation, I and most
Crimean Tatars were indeed unfamiliar with Russian law and the legal system. When Crimea was
part of Ukraine, Ukraine did not have any strategy on combating extremism and any relevant legal
regulation. There were neither the Law on combating extremist activities nor such notion as
prohibited literature; there were no requirements applicable to educational activities similar to those
established in Russian law. This led a situation when any movements, including the most radical
ones (which I will cover in greater detail below), and their followers could freely pursue their
activities and propagate their views in the territory of Crimea before 2014. No one paid any specific
34 Order of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 584-r “On the handover of property for free use”, 17 May
2019 (Annex 488), see also Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Taurida
Muftiyat) official website, “Zincirli Madrasa was returned to Muslims of Crimea”, 20 May 2019 (Annex 832).
35 Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 418-r “On property management issues”, 12 May
2015 (Annex 88).
36 Order of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 584-r “On the handover of property for free use”, 17 May
2019 (Annex 488).
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attention to libraries in educational institutions since the Ukrainian authorities were not able to lay
down any sensible and consistent rules over many years. Accordingly, the Ukrainian law
enforcement authorities were not engaged in any systematic work, though they sometimes
conducted demonstrative anti-terrorist crackdowns in order to feign that they did something.
45. It is therefore not surprising that, in the beginning, we assumed a hostile attitude toward all
restrictions that were fundamentally new and unfamiliar to us.37 Despite that, as soon as a clear and
comprehensible regulation procedure and a federal list of prohibited extremist materials came to
our knowledge, we brought that information to the notice of Muslim religious organisations, the
clergy, the Muslim community, urging teachers and personnel of religious educational institutions
to familiarise themselves with that list and to take action in order to withdraw prohibited materials,
if any.38
46. Ukraine’s claims are at variance with the facts since Ukraine includes in the category of the socalled
searches scheduled inspections carried out, amongst others, by representatives of the
Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of the Republic of Crimea, sanitary and epidemiological
authorities, fire and other services. Such inspections were and still are conducted not only in
spiritual educational institutions but also in regular secular general educational and higher
educational institutions, kindergartens, hospitals, and other social institutions of both Crimea and
other regions of the Russian Federation.
47. When searches were conducted in the premises of madrasas (mosques), as was the case with a
school of hafizes in Kolchugino, as far as I aware, these were conducted based on court decisions
with a view to verifying information about the potential distribution of literature included in the
federal list of extremist materials, information about the storage of fire arms in the educational
institution, or to identifying people propagating radical Islam.39 As I learnt afterwards, such
practice serves to combat terrorist and extremist activities and applies across the Russian
Federation.
48. The search at the madrasa in Kolchugino was the first one to be conducted in Muslim educational
institutions after Crimea’s accession to the Russian Federation. After we familiarised ourselves
with Russian laws on countering extremism and informed the Spiritual Directorate’s madrasas
37 That it was difficult to adapt to Russian extremist law was also noted by Ayder Ismailov, Deputy Chairman of the Spiritual
Directorate of Muslims of Crimea, “We faced a new legislation that regulates everything differently […] We weren’t
accustomed to that. It was difficult for us to comply with the requirement to bring bookshelves at mosques in compliance with
that law as quickly as possible” See e.g. Kommersant, “Crimean Tatar ego”, 23 March 2015 (Annex 917).
38 Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Taurida Muftiyat) official website,
“List of prohibited literature”, 7 April 2014 (Annex 828).
39 The school of hafizes in Kolchugino was widely known in the region for its cooperation with the Muslim Brotherhood
organisation that propagates radical Islam. According to Decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. GKPI
03-116 of 14 February 2003, the Muslim Brotherhood is recognised as a terrorist organisation and its activities are banned in
the territory of the Russian Federation. See Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, Unified federal list of
organizations, including foreign and international organizations, recognized terrorist according to the laws of the Russian
Federation, 31 August 2020 (Annex 499).
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about literature included in the federal list of extremist materials,40 the madrasas’ personnel, in
large part, rectified the breaches and prepared their educational institutions for further inspections.
In light of this, the other inspections at Crimean madrasas in the summer of 2014 were conducted
as normal. In the years that followed and now, there has been no such issue any longer; all madrasas
operate in accordance with Russian law as usual, and the law enforcement authorities raise no
claims against them.
8. Fight against the spread of extremist ideologies among Crimean Muslims
49.
Seitibraimovich – the Spiritual Directorate has fought the spread of the ideology of radical Islam
in Crimea and opposed such organisations and radical movements as the Party of Liberation (Hizb
ut-Tahrir al-Islami,41 hereinafter “Hizb ut-Tahrir”), followers of al-Ahbash, Salafism, Takfirism,
Jihadism, and others.
50. Hizb ut-Tahrir is known for its ideas of creating a worldwide caliphate. To this end, Hizb ut-Tahrir
allows resorting to both peaceful and armed methods, including Prophet Muhammad’s method
(hereinafter the “Prophet’s method”), the last stage of which is nothing else but military action.42
51. I personally met followers of that organisation for the first time in 1998 in Crimea. The organisation
originally campaigned for the return of Muslims to the Islamic way of life, but the ideas propagated
by Hizb ut-Tahrir were becoming more radical over time.
52. Since around 2005, as far as I am aware, they have started openly promoting the ideology of their
organisation that consists in the rejection of the democratic system and the laws of a secular state.
In around the same period, the followers of that organisation in Crimea repeatedly approached me
as a teacher of the Azov Madrasa and criticised my teaching methods since I did not teach children
about things they considered to be “necessary” such as the caliphate and the Prophet’s method. In
my turn, I understood perfectly well what their ideology was about and was not only unaffected by
their influence but tried to shield other Muslims of Crimea from it.
53. In 2008, the radicalism of Hizb ut-Tahrir’s followers reached the point where they went as far as
to foretell that the 2008 Ramazan would be the last Ramazan without a caliphate, thereby showing
their confidence in their intentions that were basically aimed at building the Islamic State and
potentially taking Crimea back to make it part of this State.
40 Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Taurida Muftiyat) official website,
“List of prohibited literature”, 7 April 2014 (Annex 828).
41 According to Decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation No. GKPI 03-116 of 14 February 2003, the Party
of Liberation (Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami) is recognised as a terrorist organisation in the Russian Federation. See Federal Security
Service of the Russian Federation, Unified federal list of organizations, including foreign and international organizations,
recognized terrorist according to the laws of the Russian Federation, 31 August 2020 (Annex 499).
42 The Prophet’s method includes the following stages: 1) implicit call; 2) explicit call; 3) request for assistance from the
people in power; 4) military intervention.
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54. When a war broke out in Syria in 2011, in the first months, Hizb ut-Tahrir’s members voiced their
approval of the events unfolding in Syria which they believed to be the greatest jihad – gazavat43
and called Crimeans to join it. Those calls started to die down after half a year, which was
apparently ordered by Hizb ut-Tahrir’s central leadership.
55. In light of the Syrian war in 2011 and as the Ukrainian authorities failed to take action, the Spiritual
Directorate – along with the measures previously taken to fight the spread of the ideology of radical
Islam – organised a programme called “Islakh” (Purification). The programme’s idea was to
counteract various sects and non-traditional Crimean movements, which was achieved by outreach
activities in society and explanations about the positions and views of such movements.44 Further,
the Spiritual Directorate accepted applications from the victims and attempted to communicate the
applications to the Ukrainian state authorities in order to hold the guilty responsible. Press
conferences and roundtables were held on this topic, cooperation with specialists from higher
educational institutions began. As part of this programme, to prevent any further spread of Hizb
ut-Tahrir’s ideology, our programme also urged the Crimean state authorities to take action against
Hizb ut-Tahrir’s cell that, among other things, was capturing Crimea’s mosques by taking
possession of the seal and constituent documents of local religious communities and organising
illegal staff reshuffles.45
56. It is important that, in 2012, the Spiritual Directorate prepared an analysis of Hizb ut-Tahrir’s
printed material that the Spiritual Directorate had to submit to the attention of the Head of the Main
Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The
following conclusions were drawn and brought to the attention of the Security Service of Ukraine:
a. “No matter how this structure calls itself: “party”, “group”, “religious organisation”, etc.,
this structure, in our opinion, fully falls under the definition of a destructive cult”;
b. “An important goal of Hizb ut-Tahrir is to loosen and destroy the structure of non-Muslim
public administration and, ultimately, the destruction of physical borders and
constitutional foundations of the states in which Hizb-ut-Tahrir operates”;
c. “[B]ased on the available printed material, it may be noted that […] there is intolerance,
xenophobia and, moreover, a call for an irreconcilable struggle against disbelief and
dissent, and against a regime and a system that are not clerical”, “the ideas like “there are
us and strangers”, “we must fight strangers” are persistently implemented using religious
vocabulary, and, consequently, appealing to the sacred in the subconscious of the reader”;
“there is an open call for violent methods of changing the state system, non-recognition
and disobedience to the current legislation, as ‘the laws of disbelief’”; “Islamic concepts
and terms are perversely interpreted, for example, jihad is presented as war, aggression,
which is an extremely subjective opinion”;
43 Gazavat is an armed fight against the infidels (“holy war”).
44 Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Taurida Muftiyat) official website,
“Results of 2011”, 16 January 2012 (Annex 823).
45 Appeal of E. Ablaev, Mufti of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Crimea, to the Head of the Gvardeysk Township
Council, No. 269, 25 July 2011 (Annex 821).
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d. “The ideology of Hizb-ut-Tahrir differs significantly from the traditional understanding
of Islam”;
e. “Hizb-ut-Tahrir does not recognise and declares states that do not live according to the
laws of Sharia “the state of kufr” (unbelief), against which it is necessary to conduct a
military Jihad”;
f. “Hizb-ut-Tahrir calls for the overthrow of any state system and system of state power in
those countries where this party operates”;
g. “The overthrow of the government and the method of establishing an Islamic state of the
Caliphate, carrying its ideology, this organisation sees in the commission of a military
Jihad, that is, war”.46
57. We specifically drew the attention of the Security Service to a number of extracts from Hizb ut-
Tahrir’s policy-related documents47 that call Muslims to “fight against the rulers with arms if they
fail to establish Islamic rule”, “[t]o fight them if they establish the laws of kufr”, “to fight against
them, to remove them from ruling and to return the rule to the laws of Islam”, “to organise an armed
confrontation against the ruler in order to deprive him of the authority to govern”, calls “to
implement[…] the laws of Islam, without a difference between prayer and jihad, between prayer
(dua) and intimidation of the enemy, between zakat and cutting off the hand of a thief, between
saving those in trouble and killing those attacking the holiness of Muslims”, to fight an aggressive
war rather than a defensive one, “even if the enemy does not attack us”.48 We explained that these
texts clearly show that “Hizb ut-Tahrir openly calls for Jihad against infidel states”.49
58. We published similar extracts from policy-related and other materials of Hizb ut-Tahrir on our
official website and called one to come to one’s senses, and explained to Crimea’s Muslims that
the same contained calls to actions that are classified as crimes under Ukrainian law.50 To clarify
the positions and views of Hizb ut-Tahrir, we published a book titled “Heaven in a Caliphate or
Yet Another Attempt to Divide Muslims”.51
59. In its turn, Ukraine failed to take any action to suppress Hizb ut-Tahrir’s activities and to wind up
the organisation, in view of which its followers continued spreading their ideas, organising rallies,
discussions, and propagating them in publications and literature. For instance, in 2013, Hizb ut-
Tahrir’s followers organised a rally in front of the Bakhchisaray Palace using such mottos as “One
ummah, one flag, one war”.
46 Letter of E. Ablaev, Mufti of Muslims of Crimea, to the Head of the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine
in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, No. 261, 7 June 2012 (Annex 825). Contain materials recognised as extremist in the
Russian Federation.
47 Contain materials recognised as extremist in the Russian Federation.
48 Letter of E. Ablaev, Mufti of Muslims of Crimea, to the Head of the Main Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine
in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, No. 261, 7 June 2012 (Annex 825).
49 Ibid.
50 Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Taurida Muftiyat) official website,
“Islakh programme: Hizb ut-Tahrir calls for war and toppling of the government system”, 25 April 2012 (Annex 824). Contain
materials recognised as extremist in the Russian Federation.
51 Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Taurida Muftiyat) official website,
“Results of 2011”, 16 January 2012 (Annex 823).
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60. It is also revealing that Hizb ut-Tahrir has been inconsistent in its approach toward the concept of
ethnicity. Before 2014, the followers of that organisation denied the existence of such notions as
“ethnicity” and “Motherland”, did not share the idea that the Crimean Tatar language had to be
protected and preserved, and fought against the Crimean Tatar flag and hymn. Once their dislike
for the Crimean Tatar flag manifested itself in an extreme manner when, during a Hajj in 2011–
2012, Hizb ut-Tahrir’s followers refused to stand under the Crimean Tatar flag under which all the
other pilgrims were going from Crimea (the rules of the Hajj prescribe that all pilgrims should
move in groups with certain insignia). As they refused to join the group of Crimean pilgrims, the
organiser of the Hajj gave Hizb ut-Tahrir’s followers a wooden stick with a garbage bag, under
which they finished the circumambulation to avoid standing under the Crimean Tatar flag.
Whereas, after 2014, not only did Hizb ut-Tahrir declare that they belonged to the Crimean Tatar
people but all of a sudden started purportedly fighting for the observance of Crimean Tatars’ rights
in the hope of receiving certain “dividends” by doing so.
61. For many years, we tried to thwart any attempts of Hizb ut-Tahrir’s followers to visit Crimean
madrasas and to extend their influence over us, both teachers and students. However, we did not
have any powerful levers of influence for we had no support from the secular authorities that we
did obtain after 2014. Russian law imposes certain requirements on teachers and educational
institutions that help restrict access to teaching for the followers of radical religious organisations.
62. Besides, in 2015, we approached Z.R. Smirnov, Chairman of the State Committee for Inter-ethnic
Relations and Deported Citizens of the Republic of Crimea (hereinafter the “State Committee”)
and told him that, before 2014, the state did not help the Spiritual Directorate in our attempts to
resist radical ideologies. We drew the attention of the Chairman of the State Committee to the fact
that that struggle was not successful everywhere, and at the time of our appeal, a number of sites
of worship were still captured by sectarians, including a mosque in the village of Ismail-Biy of
Evpatoria, a mosque in the village of Dubky, a mosque in Alushta, and several others. With the
registration procedure of religious organisations and land plots settled, and with the assistance of
the Russian state authorities in the registration of title to houses of worship, this allowed the
Spiritual Directorate to take some of the above mosques under its protection.
63. In 2014–2015, with the approval of S.V. Aksyonov, Head of Crimea, the Spiritual Directorate
conducted outreach activities among Crimea’s population, explaining that it was illegal to be
involved in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organisation banned in the Russian Federation, and
that the organisation had a pernicious influence and contradicted the fundamentals of Islam. Over
this time, people who had previously shared Hizb ut-Tahrir’s ideas took heed of the Spiritual
Directorate’s calls, left the prohibited organisation, and returned to traditional Islam. I recall some
cases when such people continued their spiritual activities as imams of the Spiritual Directorate
and still conduct these activities to this day.
9. Preservation of mosques in the Republic of Crimea
64. The Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Crimea supervises and participates in discussions about
the progress of works performed to preserve mosques in Crimea and provides its assistance to
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conservation professionals and constructors. Needless to say that we did not stay on the sidelines
when it came to priority emergency works on the roof of the Great Khan Mosque. It was important
for both the Spiritual Directorate and the Administration of the State Budgetary Institution of the
Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”
(hereinafter the “Museum-Reserve”) to ensure the safety of the Mosque’s parishioners, to preserve
their lives and health that were in danger of view of the roof’s emergency condition. There were
usually several hundred parishioners during Friday prayers who, while making bows, created
vibration that may have caused the Mosque’s roof to fall and lead to a tragedy.
65. In 2019, of the Council of Crimean Tatars discussed the progress of the
priority emergency works at the Khan Mosque with Sergey Aksyonov, Head of the Republic of
Crimea.52 Apart from discussions, we facilitated a dialogue between Muslims and their
communities that repeatedly asked us to assist in the opening of a mosque for the public, on the
one part, and construction and restoration companies engaged in the reconstruction and
preservation of the Mosque and the administration of the Museum-Reserve, on the other part.53
66. I personally and, as far as I know, most parishioners of the Khan Mosque, are satisfied with the
result of the priority and emergency works on the roof and before the coronavirus pandemic
attended prayers without fear for our lives and health.
I hereby confirm that the above information is true to my best knowledge and belief.
Date: 09.06.2021
Signature:
52 Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol (Taurida Muftiyat) official website,
“Sergey Aksyonov, Head of Crimea, discussed the progress of restoration works at the Khan’s Palace with the Council of
Crimean Tatars (PHOTO)”, 1 August 2019 (Annex 833).
53 For example, see Letter from E. Ablayev, Mufti of Muslims of Crimea, to V.L. Martynyuk, General Director of the State
Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”,
No. 534, 2 August 2018 (Annex 605).
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Witness statement of
, 9 June 2021
WITNESS STATEMENT OF
9 June 2021
I, State Budgetary
Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological
Museum-Reserve”1 (the “Museum-Reserve”) which includes the Museum of
History and Culture of Crimean Tatars (the “Khan’s Palace” or the “Palace”) located at 133
Rechnaya St., Bakhchisaray, Republic of Crimea (since 2012, I have been acting as
and hereby state as follows.
1. Introduction
1. In this witness statement, I will give explanations on a number of issues related to the preservation
of the Khan’s Palace with an emphasis on the priority emergency works at the Khan’s Palace (16th
– 19th centuries): Khan Mosque (1740-1743) (hereinafter referred to as the “Khan Mosque”),
including the rationale for conducting preservation works at the site, monitoring them and the
interim results of such works. This witness statement is based on my own knowledge of the above
issues and the documents referred to below. Where I make a statement based on any information
or belief, I will state that in my witness statement and cite the source of such information or belief.
2. Information concerning my education and expertise is set out in an annex hereto.3
2. Background
a. Composition of the Khan's Palace Ensemble
3. The Khan’s Palace is included in a list of cultural heritage sites of federal significance located in
the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.4 The Palace’s Ensemble includes the following 17 sites:
1 The official website of the Museum-Reserve is https://handvorec.ru/. Also, the Museum’s pages are regularly updated
in the following social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bakhchisaray.bikz/; VKontakte:
https://vk.com/bakhchisaray.museum; Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bakhchisaray_museum/ and information
on the Museum's opening hours and events held there is published on the said pages.
2
3 CV , 8 June 2021 (Annex 1285).
4 Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2073-r approving the List of cultural heritage sites of federal
significance located in the territory of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, 17 October 2015 (Annex 92),
pp. 7-8.
Translation
Annex 20
1
2
No. Site name Site constructed in Site address
1. Main Building early 16th – 18th
centuries
Bldgs. D”, “E”, “Z”, “Zh”, “I”, 133
Rechnaya St., Bakhchisaray, the
Republic of Crimea
2. Harem 18th century Bldg. “K”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
3. Earl’s (Secular)
Building
early 16th – 18th
centuries
Bldgs. “A”, “B”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
4. Khan's Kitchen 18th century Bldgs. “V”, “G”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
5. Stable Building 16th – 18th centuries Bldgs. “О”, “P”, “R”, “S”, 133
Rechnaya St., Bakhchisaray, the
Republic of Crimea
6. Library Building 1st half of the 19th
century
Bldg. “N”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
7. Falcon Tower 18th century Bldg. “L”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
8. Khan’s Mosque 1740 - 1743 Bldg. “Sh”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
9. Dilara Bikec Dürbe
Tomb
1764 Bldg. “М”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
10. Sary Guzel Bath 1533 Bldg. “F”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
11. Northern Dürbe
Tomb
16th century Bldg. “U”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
12. Southern Dürbe
Tomb
17th century Bldg. “Т”, 133 Rechnaya St.,
Bakhchisaray, the Republic of
Crimea
13. Grave Rotunda 18th century 133 Rechnaya St., Bakhchisaray,
the Republic of Crimea
14. Three-Bridge
Embankment
16th century 133 Rechnaya St., Bakhchisaray,
the Republic of Crimea
15. Gardens and Park
Sites
16th – 18th centuries 133 Rechnaya St., Bakhchisaray,
the Republic of Crimea
16. Catherine’s Mile 1787 133 Rechnaya St., Bakhchisaray,
the Republic of Crimea
17. Court Cemetery 16th – 18th centuries 133 Rechnaya St., Bakhchisaray,
the Republic of Crimea
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4. Sixteen sites of the ensemble are classified as cultural heritage sites of federal significance.5
The “Court Cemetery” is included in a list of cultural heritage sites of regional significance.6
b. Status of the Khan's Palace Ensemble
5. As far as I am aware, the Khan’s Palace was first assigned the status of architectural monument
of national significance by virtue of Regulation of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian
Soviet Socialist Republic of 24 August 1963 No. 9707 (hereinafter referred to as the
“Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the USSR”).8 At the same time, as far as I am
aware, no documents for provision of special status to the Khan’s Palace in the contemporary
Ukrainian period up to 2014, are available.
6. In the transition period, which followed the admission of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian
Federation, the sites that in accordance with the laws of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
and Ukraine were included in the lists of historical and cultural monuments (of cultural
heritage), the State Register of Immovable Monuments of Ukraine, together with their protected
areas located in the Republic of Crimea, were taken under state protection in accordance with
the requirements of Russian law.9
7. Subsequently, as I have mentioned above (para. 4), the Khan’s Palace and the sixteen sites it
comprises, including the Khan Mosque, were included in a list of cultural heritage sites of
federal significance located in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.10 This regime provides
for the highest degree of protection of listed sites (as compared to cultural heritage sites of
regional or local significance), including, among others, the establishment of restrictions on its
use and requirements to the works on its preservation.
5 Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2073-r approving the List of cultural heritage sites of federal
significance located in the territory of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, 17 October 2015 (Annex 92),
pp. 7-8.
6 Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 627 “On the сlassification of сultural heritage
sites as cultural heritage sites of regional significance and identified cultural heritage sites”, 20 December 2016 (Annex
107), clause 1074.
7 See Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic No. 970 “On the Regulation of
Registration and Protection of Architectural Monuments in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic”, 24 August 1963,
clause 285.
8 In 1990, the following sites were included in a list of architectural monuments of regional significance across the
Crimean Region (identified between 1986 and 1989) in addition to a list of monuments of the Bakhchisaray Palace and
Park Complex: a Persian Garden with ruins of buildings (harem); a harem garden with ruins of buildings and two
fountains; the main court of the palace with three fountains; a pool garden with ruins of buildings and a cascade fountain;
a court cemetery. See Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Crimean Regional Council of People’s Deputies No.
48 “On Taking the Newly Discovered Monuments Under State Protection, Confirmation of Boundaries of Protected Areas
around Sites of Mass Execution and Burial of Soviet Citizens”, 20 February 1990, Archival abstract from Annex No. 3,
para. 23.
9 Resolution of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea No. 2152-6/14 “On measures aimed at the preservation of
cultural heritage sites in the Republic of Crimea in the transitional period”, 21 May 2014 (Annex 66), para. 1. See also
Federal Law No. 9-FZ “On specifics of legal regulation of relations in the field of culture and tourism in connection with
the admission of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation and the formation of new constituent entities within
the Russian Federation - the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol”, 12 February 2015 (Annex 84).
10 Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2073-r approving the List of cultural heritage sites of federal
significance located in the territory of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, 17 October 2015 (Annex 92),
pp. 7-8.
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8. The scope of protection of the Khan Mosque was approved on 13 July 2017 at a meeting of the
Research and Methodological Cultural Heritage Council of the State Committee for the
Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Crimea (as amended on 21 August 2019),11
which allowed perpetuating the memorial, historical, artistic and urban-planning importance of
the site, its historical and functional purpose, and showing its compositional importance and
protected elements.
c. Inclusion of the Khan’s Palace in UNESCO’s World Heritage List
9. As far as I am aware, the issue of inclusion of the Museum-Reserve into UNESCO’s List of
World Cultural and Natural Heritage has been dealt with since 2003, when Mr Evgeny
Vladimirovich Petrov was Director of the Museum. I did not work at the Museum-Reserve at
that time (prior to 2011).
10. In 2003, the Khan’s Palace was included in UNESCO’s Tentative List and was added to it again
on 24 September 2012 as part of the complex “The historical surroundings of Crimean Khans’
capital in Bakhchisaray” that included such cultural monuments as Chufut-Kale, Salachik,
Dürbe Azis).12 Work on a nomination dossier of the site “The historical surroundings of
Crimean Khans’ capital in Bakhchisaray” (the “Nomination Dossier”) was carried out in
cooperation with the National Commission of Ukraine for UNESCO, the Bakhchisaray
Historical and Cultural Reserve, the Research Institution of Monument Protective Research,
and the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, and was
completed in 2013.13
11. As far as I remember, in 2012, a UNESCO expert made several visits to the Museum to assist
in the preparation of the Nomination Dossier. At that time, I was acting as Deputy Director for
Economic Affairs and was not personally working on the issue of inclusion of the Khan’s Palace
in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. To the best of my knowledge, the Nomination Dossier
includes information about specific features of the nominated site, rationale for its uniqueness
and other information that allows experts of the World Heritage Committee to make a decision
on its inclusion (or denial of inclusion) into the World Heritage List.
12. As far as I understand, one of Ukraine’s claims consists, in particular, in that the historical handmade
“Tatarka” tiles from the roof of the Khan Mosque were replaced with modern Spanishmade
tiles. I cannot agree with this statement since already in last century the original tiling
11 Order of the State Committee for Cultural Heritage Protection of the Republic of Crimea No. 197 “On introducing
amendments into the Order of the State Committee for Cultural Heritage Protection of the Republic of Crimea of 13 July
2017 No. 116 “On approval of the scope of protection of the cultural heritage site of federal significance ‘Khan's Palace’,
16th – 19th centuries: Khan Mosque, 1740–1743”, 21 August 2019 (Annex 118).
12 UNESCO’s Tentative List, Entry on the inclusion of the “Bagçesaray Palace of the Crimean Khans”, available at:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/1820/, 7 July 2003; UNESCO’s Tentative List, Entry on the inclusion of “The
historical surroundings of Crimean Khans’ capital in Bakhchysaray”, available at:
https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5774/, 24 September 2012.
13 There is no original nomination dossier in the Museum-Reserve. Nevertheless, in my understanding, the final text is
contained in the publication “Historical and Cultural Reserves. Nomination Dossiers of Cultural Heritage Sites that
Ukraine Proposes to be Included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List (“Ancient City of Khersones Tavrichesky and its
Chora”, “Historical Surroundings of the Capital of Crimean Khans in Bakhchisaray”, “Archaeological Monument
“Kamennaya Mogila”), Kiev, 2014 (Annex 784), to which I refer in my witness statement.
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from the roof of the Mosque was entirely replaced with tiles collected from the roofs of ruined
or half-ruined buildings nearby and thus was not authentic. The replacement is confirmed
precisely in the Nomination Dossier, which states that the roof tiles were completely replaced
in 1967.14
13. In November 2013, the Museum’s administration in cooperation with the Ukrainian
representatives of the expert committee worked on the elimination of technical issues in the
Nomination Dossier. The dossier was to be submitted by 1 February 2014 to UNESCO experts
who highlighted certain problems that impeded the inclusion of the reserve’s sites in the World
Heritage List, including, among others, the following comments: “lack of state certificates in
relation to a number of nominated sites”, “lack of state funding from the budget”.15
14. In 2014, the process of inclusion of the Palace in the World Heritage List was suspended. As I
was told by Elmira Narimanovna Ablyalimova, who was at that time acting director of the
Museum-Reserve, it happened on the initiative of the UNESCO Secretariat which ceased all
cooperation with representatives of cultural heritage sites in Crimea. At the same time, we do
not in any way deny international organizations, including UNESCO, access to the territory of
the Museum-Reserve, on the contrary, we welcome any similar initiatives and are ready to
provide any documents related to the works aimed at the preservation of the Khan’s Palace as
well as relevant progress reports on such works.
3. Repair and restoration works in the Khan’s Palace
15. Since the time of construction, all sites of the Khan’s Palace have undergone multiple repair
and restoration works, and the Khan Mosque is no exception. Being one of the largest mosques
in Crimea and the first building of the Khan’s Palace (built in 1532), the Khan Mosque was
restored virtually from scratch after the 1736 fire.16
16. Following the admission of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation, the first sites of
the Khan’s Palace to undergo priority emergency works (for they were in a critical state) were
the Khan Mosque and the Main Building.
17. Today, repair and restoration works are being conducted at the above and other sites comprising
the ensemble of the Palace. Research and design documents are being elaborated for the works
at the following sites: the Main Building, Harem, Sary-Guzel Bath, Grave Rotunda, Gardens
and Park Sites. Repair and restoration works are being carried out at the following sites: the
Stable Building, Library Building, Falcon Tower, Southern Dürbe Tomb, Northern Dürbe
Tomb. In 2021, the works at the Earl’s (Secular) Building, Khan’s Kitchen, Three-Bridge
Embankment are expected to take place.
14 Nomination Dossiers of Cultural Heritage Sites that Ukraine Proposes to be Included in UNESCO’s World Heritage
List (“Ancient City of Khersones Tavrichesky and its Chora”, “Historical Surroundings of the Capital of Crimean Khans
in Bakhchisaray”, “Archaeological Monument “Kamennaya Mogila”), Kiev, 2014 (Annex 784), p. 128.
15 Letter from the General Director of the Crimean Republican Institution of Bakhchisaray Historical and Cultural Reserve
to the Head of the Department for Resorts and Tourism of the Directorate of the Economy of the Bakhchisaray District
State Administration No. 1010, 5 December 2013 (Annex 662).
16 Certificate of state historical and cultural expert examination of the design documents for the preservation of the cultural
heritage site of federal significance: “The Khan’s Palace (16th – 19th centuries): the Khan Mosque (1740-1743)”, 29 June
2017 (Annex 696), p. 8.
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18. The works to preserve the Khan Mosque were divided into two stages: the first stage involved
priority emergency works on the roof of the Mosque and was completed in August 2018. It
should be specifically noted that these works were important as the Mosque is in operation and
any failure to take measures as a matter of urgency would have posed a threat to people. Within
the framework of the second stage, which involved, in particular, repair and restoration works
in the eastern and western minarets, repair and restoration of foundations, floors, facades and
interior of the Mosque, research and design documents were elaborated and approved.17 The
second-stage works are expected to start in 2021.
19. As , I was not involved in any search for or engagement of
contractors under any contract for priority emergency and restoration works. Contractors were
engaged by budget institutions and customers (developers) responsible for the implementation
of the Federal Target Programme “Social and Economic Development of the Republic of
Crimea and Sevastopol until 2020” (hereinafter referred to as the “FTP”, “Programme”) and
were appointed by the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea.18 These customers
(developers) include (at different times) the State Committee on Cultural Heritage Protection
of the Republic of Crimea, the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea
“Krymnaslediye”, and the State Autonomous Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Directorate
for Centralized Service and Development of Culture Institutions”.
a. State of the site Khan Mosque and timeline of works aimed at its preservation
20. As far as I can see from the documents held in the Museum’s archives, the most recent largescale
restoration and repair works, as I mentioned above (para. 12), were carried out in 1967 on
the roof of the Khan Mosque: “the clay roof tiling was completely replaced, a fixating metal
frame was installed inside the Eastern minaret, murals on the facades were partially restored,
the facades were painted with ochre glue paint”.19
21. Then, in the 1980s, a planned restoration of roofing structures and covering was carried out at
the Khan Mosque. However, despite this, the condition of the Mosque’s roof had drastically
deteriorated by 1989. As it follows from the engineering and technical inspection carried out in
1989 by the Ukrainian Special Scientific Restoration Design Institute “Ukrproektrestavratsiya”,
heavily relied on by Ukraine,20 the following problems with the roofing of the Mosque were
recorded:
17 Certificate of state historical and cultural expert examination of the design documents for the preservation of the
following cultural heritage site of federal significance: “the Khan’s Palace (16th – 19th centuries): the Khan Mosque
(1740-1743)” (2nd stage), 31 October 2018 (Annex 707).
18 See, for example, Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 46 “On introducing amendments
into the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea of 24 June 2015 No. 350”, 25 January 2019
(Annex 115).
19 Certificate No. 1 of the technical state of the historical and cultural monument and planning area improvements works,
9 November 2010 (Annex 655), p. 2. See also Nomination Dossiers of Cultural Heritage Sites that Ukraine Proposes to
be Included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List (“Ancient City of Khersones Tavrichesky and its Chora”, “Historical
Surroundings of the Capital of Crimean Khans in Bakhchisaray”, “Archaeological Monument “Kamennaya Mogila”),
Kiev, 2014 (Annex 784), p. 128; Ukrainian Special Scientific Restoration Design Institute “Ukrproektrestavratsiya”,
Detailed Engineering and Technical Examination of the Architectural Monument of XVI-XIX Centuries, the Khan
Mosque in Bakhchisaray, Vol. II, Book 4, Kiev, 1989 (Annex 653).
20 In my understanding, Ukraine justifies that construction solutions proposed by Russian contractors after 2014 were
unreasonable by making reference to design documents prepared by UkrNIIproektrestavratsiya. In my turn, I am not
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a. “Instability of the western and southern parts of the ceiling [of the Mosque’s first floor]
is observed. It was established as a result of a test calculation of load-bearing beams
that the strength requirement for main beams is not met and the beams need to be
reinforced or replaced. […] Wooden beams of the attic ceiling of the central part (sized
35x37 cm in cross-section) are not damaged, however, there is a visible sagging of the
ceiling (about 15 cm). The covering of the ceiling is damaged and rotten as a result of
previous leakages. Wooden beams of the attic ceiling need to be reinforced or
replaced. The condition of the covering is unsatisfactory”;
b. “Wooden beams of the ceiling of the Khan’s Lodge (sized 16x16 cm in cross-section)
are rotten as a result of prior leakages and have collapsed in the north-western and
central parts. Covering boards are rotten, plastering collapsed substantially. The
ceiling of the Khan’s Lodge is in a state of emergency”;
c. “The angle rafter and sheathing boards in the south-eastern part of the building have
water-damage due to gaps in tiling”;
d. “Wooden structures of the eastern facade regularly suffer from water damage, the
rafter plates and rafter cleats and covering are rotten. The roof structures of the eastern
façade are in an unsatisfactory condition”;
e. “The roofing of the mosque is in a satisfactory condition, save for the south-eastern
part where tiles are tilted and have gaps. The water gets in easily in that area and
dampens the wooden elements of the roof”;
f. “The clay tiling of the eastern gallery is significantly tilted in cornices with some tiles
missing and the bitumen roofing rotten. The condition of the roofing of the eastern
gallery is unsatisfactory”.21
22. Later, in 2003, a number of issues were also reported in a restoration assignment for developing
design documents, with the said assignment approved by the Head of the State Service for
Cultural Heritage Preservation of Ukraine:
a. The roofing of the mosque is in an emergency state;
b. The wooden suspended ceiling over the Khan's Lodge is destroyed;
c. Wooden staircases leading to the Khan's Lodge are in an emergency state;
d. Wooden column of the wooden eastern facade is sagging and damaged by pests.22
23. In 2003-2004, Krymproyektrestavratsiya CJSC carried out certain priority emergency works on
the roof of the Khan Mosque. As far as I can infer from the documents archived in the Museumaware
of any projects of “UkrNIIproektrestavratsiya” and believe that Ukraine meant “Ukrproektrestavratsiya” that was
actually involved in the preparation of design documents for repair and restoration works at the Palace’s sites. It is
important to note that the design documents were prepared by Ukrproektrestavratsiya in 1989, which makes it impossible
to rely on these conclusions in respect of the current works aimed at the restoration of the Khan’s Palace after the lapse
of more than 25 years.
21 Ukrainian Special Scientific Restoration Design Institute “Ukrproektrestavratsiya”, Detailed Engineering and Technical
Examination of the Architectural Monument of XVI-XIX Centuries, the Khan Mosque in Bakhchisaray, Vol. II, Book 4,
Kiev, 1989 (Annex 653).
22 Restoration assignment for development of research and design documents for the restoration of the architectural
monument of the 16th – 18th centuries: the Great Khan Mosque, approved by the Head of the State Service for Cultural
Heritage Protection of Ukraine, М.М. Kucheruk, 2003 (Annex 1239), clause 8.
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Reserve, these works were selective and incommensurate with the problems identified in the
1989 Ukrproektrestavratsiya report and in the 2003 restoration assignment for design
documents described above.
24. In 2010, a report on the mechanical condition noted the “unsatisfactory”23 condition of the
Mosque’s roofing, which was aggravated by plant seeds getting inside cracks that formed in the
mortar used for laying the tiles, and the plants’ roots grew, thereby decreasing the waterproof
qualities of the roof that was already unstable.
Khan Mosque. Plants growing on the roof24
Khan Mosque. Roof leaks25
25. From 2011 until 2014, as the Museum-Reserve was self-financed and received no funds from
the budget, no repair or restoration works were carried out on the site.
23 Certificate No. 1 of the technical state of the historical and cultural monument and planning area improvements works,
9 November 2010 (Annex 655), p 2.
24 Photographs from the archives of the State budgetary institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical,
Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, July 2015.
25 Photographs from the archives of the State budgetary institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical,
Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, February 2014.
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26. From 2012 onwards, I have repeatedly raised the issue of funds for preservation works in the
Museum at meetings with representatives of the Ukrainian state authorities. Thus, in April 2013,
at a meeting of the Permanent Culture Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea, I made a report on the emergency state of the roof and façade of the Khan
Mosque,26 however, the issue remained unresolved due to the lack of funding.
27. Following the admission of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation and the end of
the transition period, in May 2015, a meeting was held with directors of museums in Crimea
under the leadership of O.Yu. Golodets, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Government. At the
said meeting, after assuming the office of General Director of the Museum-Reserve, I reported
that it was necessary to conduct emergency works in the Main Building and the Mosque and
sought inclusion of the Khan’s Palace in the Federal Target Programme (hereinafter referred to
as the “FTP”).
28. As early as in June 2015, we succeeded in having the Palace included in the FTP and received
148,280,000.00 Rubles27 for the first stage of emergency works. The allocation of funds for
developing research and design documents and works on the preservation of all sites of the
Khan’s Palace was envisaged by the FTP of 2018.
29. In late 2015, an overhang above the northern entrance began to pose a threat to visitors,
worshippers and employees because supporting beams of the central part of the northern roof
pitch decayed and as a result of deformation of the walls where rafters and roof beams were
supported.
Khan Mosque. Northern roof pitch28
26 See, e.g., Novosti Kryma, “Bakhchisaray Reserve looking for funds to restore the park and repair the mosque”, 23
April 2013 (Annex 885).
27 Regulation of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 363 “On aspects of implementation of the Federal
Target Program ‘Social and economic development of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol until 2020’”, 29
June 2015 (Annex 90).
28 Photographs from the archives of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical,
Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, April 2015.
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Khan Mosque. Sagging of the cornice29
30. By that time, the tiles began to fall off from the roof of the Khan Mosque, including while
visitors were there. Hence, I initiated a meeting of the Committee on the Prevention and
Liquidation of Emergencies and Ensuring Fire Safety of the Bakhchisaray District where I
raised the issue of the roofing of the Khan Mosque that might collapse. This threat was equalled
to a threat of local man-made disaster, therefore, I was recommended to restrict access to the
building of the Khan Mosque, to prohibit and restrict access to the sidewalk near the northern
part of the Khan Mosque and take immediate measures to carry out repair and restorative
works.30
31. On 29 December 2015, Corporation ATTA Group LLC31 (hereinafter referred to as the “ATTA
Group”) was chosen as a contractor for research and design and priority emergency works at
the Khan’s Palace. A state contract for the said works at the roof of the Khan Mosque was made
on the same day, with Kiramet LLC being named as a subcontractor entity for the purposes of
developing research and design documents.32
32. The emergency state of the Khan Mosque was also caused by a deplorable condition of wooden
elements of the roofing. Their state and all evident damage were recorded by environmental
experts in 2017: Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Department of Environmental
Studies and Zoology of the Vernadsky Crimean Federal University (Crimean Federal
University) S.P. Ivanov and senior lecturer of the Department of Environmental Studies and
Zoology of the Crimean Federal University A.D. Svolynsky. According to their report
following a mycological expert examination of the structures of the roof of the Khan Mosque:
29 Photographs from the archives of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical,
Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, April 2016.
30 Commission for the Prevention and Elimination of Emergencies and Fire Safety of the Bakhchisaray District, Minutes
of the meeting No. 23, 27 November 2015 (Annex 463).
31 Order of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 1311-r “On amending the Order of the Council of
Ministers of the Republic of Crimea of 29 June 2015 No. 590-r”, 29 December 2015 (Annex 98).
32 The research and design documents prepared within the framework of the first stage were positively received in the
report following a historic and cultural expert examination. (See Certificate of state historical and cultural expert
examination of the design documents, 29 June 2017 (Annex 696)).
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a. almost all wooden elements were found to have fungal and entomological (bugs,
insects, worms, etc.) damage;
b. numerous areas of damage to wooden roof structures by three types of rot and several
types of insects show that the inspected wooden elements had an established
biodestructive environment of fungal and entomological organisms;
c. thriving of biodestructive fungi and xylophage insects on the wooden elements of the
roofing facilitates re-contamination of the wooden structures of the roof as well as the
whole building and their subsequent decay.33
33. This was also recorded by the developers of research and design documents who carried out
research immediately prior to the design works, including visual and instrumental control: in
particular, it was noted that as a result of roof leakage and dampening of the wall, the timber of
load-bearing parts of the beams began to rot, which significantly decreased their bearing
properties; damage to numerous beams as a result of rot and biological pests was also recorded;
the technical condition of the beams was found to be inadmissible, the structures wore out by
40%-80%, while certain beams wore out by about 80%.34
34. Finally, in October 2017, a certified lab of the Construction and Architectural Academy of the
Crimean Federal University conducted mechanical tests of timber samples collected from the
roofing and flooring structures. The test revealed that the wood of the surface layer of the
section, and for some elements that of the entire section, was deformed (physical and
mechanical characteristics of the material changed). The strength of deformed timber is
approximately twice lower than that of intact timber. When the wooden structures were
dismantled, certain oak structures were found to have been replaced with less hard wood, e.g.
pine.35
35. The condition of the wooden elements of the Mosque roofing is shown on the photographic and
video materials36 confirming the wear and inadmissible condition of the structures, their
damage as a result of fungi, frass, sagging, installation of additional supporting struts due to the
loss of load-bearing qualities by the main beam, wooden blocks laid to even out the upper part
of the surface, installation of de-loading posts and other ‘half-measures’ which were clearly
insufficient and posed a threat to the lives of several hundreds of worshippers at the Mosque.
33 Research and Design Documents, Volume IV, Section 4, Mycological Examinations, Mechanical Tests, 2017 (Annex
692), Conclusion following the results of the mycological expert examination of the structures of the roof and beams of
the attic ceiling of the building of the Great Khan Mosque.
34 Research and Design Documents, Volume IV, Section 3, Engineering and Technical Research, 2017 (Annex 690), pp.
31, 34.
35 Research and Design Documents, Volume IV, Section 4, Mycological Examinations, Mechanical Tests, 2017 (Annex
692), Test Protocol No. 12, 27 October 2017.
36 See, “The wooden elements of the Mosque roofing”, photographic materials from the archive of the State Budgetary
Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, 1
December 2016 (Annex 1223); “Condition of the Load-Bearing Part of the Rafter System of the Northern Roof Pitch of
the Mosque”, video materials from the archive of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray
Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, 9 February 2017 (Annex 1224).
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Degree of damage to wooden elements37
37 Photographs from the archives of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical,
Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, December 2016.
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36. As far as I can recall, in around November 2016, as part of emergency measures aimed at
preserving the Khan Mosque, the Corporation ATTA Group LLC commenced priority
emergency works.
37. As I said earlier (para. 18), priority emergency works on the Mosque’s roofing were completed
in mid-2018.
b. Disposal of elements removed from the roof of the Khan Mosque
38. Upon completion of emergency works on the roof of the Khan Mosque in April 2018, we held
a meeting of the Permanent Committee for Receipt and Removal of Assets. The attendees
inspected and assessed the condition of the elements removed from the Khan Mosque that were
to be included on the balance of the Museum-Reserve.
39. The Committee decided to include the ceramic tiles on the off-balance account and to transfer
the artistic rosettes to the Museum-Reserve.38 The roof tiles that were removed are located in
the territory of a historical and archaeological quarter called Salachik under 24-hour security.
If need be, the tiles can be used in the roofing of other sites of the Khan’s Palace, if the technical
condition of structures permits this.
40. I have referred to the critical condition of the wooden elements of the roof of the Mosque in
paras. 32–35. In its turn, the Committee has also taken into account the report on the
mycological expert examination that confirmed numerous centres of severe mycotic damage as
well as damage to wooden elements caused by wood engravers and carpenter bees. Therefore,
the Committee adopted a decision that top beams (35 m3), support core beams (11 m3), rafter
system (24.6 m3) and sprockets (202 pcs.) could not be used any longer and that they should be
written off from the off-balance account.39 Several members of the Committee did not support
this decision without providing any explanations.
c. Work progress monitoring and approval by the public
i. Monitoring by the administration of the Museum-Reserve
41. The administration of the Museum-Reserve is not obliged to monitor the progress of works
aimed at the preservation of the Khan’s Palace. However, on our own initiative, we have been
carrying out such monitoring since 2016 and have regularly informed the Council of Ministers
of the Republic of Crimea, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Crimea, the Federal
Agency for Ethnic Affairs (no longer), the Bakhchisaray administration, the Centralized
Religious Organization “Muslim Spiritual Directorate of the Republic of Crimea and
Sevastopol” to that effect.
38 Permanent Committee for Receipt and Removal of Assets, Minutes of the meeting No. 6, 23 April 2018 (Annex 703).
See also the Certificate of acceptance of elements removed from the building “Khan’s Palace”, 23 April 2018 (Annex
704); Certificate of acceptance of structural elements of the building “Khan’s Palace”, 23 April 2018 (Annex 705).
39 Ibid.
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42. In 2016-2018, we regularly informed the authorities of the progress of priority emergency
works at the Khan Mosque.40 For example, in my letter of 27 January 2017, I informed A.V.
Novoselskaya, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Crimea, that in the period from 18
November 2016 until 26 January 2017 the ATTA Group laid a boardwalk and a waterproof
layer on the part of the roof of the eastern gallery of the Khan Mosque,41 and in my letter of 17
February 2017, I said that in the period from 4 February 2017 until 10 February 2017 a glued
waterproofing carpet was laid on the deck of the northern roof pitch of the Khan Mosque.42
43. In December 2017, the staff of the Museum-Reserve recorded flows of atmospheric
precipitation as a result of heavy rain through the openings of reinforced polyethylene in a
temporary wooden shed installed by the contractor, the ATTA Group, for the conduct of
restoration works. As a result, the wooden floorings of the first and second floors of the Mosque
got wet. By 13 December 2017, the consequences of that were eliminated and the waterproofing
layer was restored.43
44. Also, in a progress report in relation to priority emergency and restoration works at the cultural
heritage site “Khan’s Palace” between 13 April 2018 and 19 April 2018 we noted that “[d]ue
to an increase in the air temperature, some glued wooden elements of roof load-bearing
structures were splitting”.44 Then the contractors responded and took all necessary measures by
installing metal clamps to prevent the beams from splitting in late May 2018.45
ii. Monitoring by the public
45. In addition to monitoring by the administration of the Museum-Reserve, we also facilitated
joint inspections of the Khan Mosque by the public and experts in various fields. This enabled
everyone concerned to observe the progress of works aimed at the preservation of the Mosque
and to get information and explanations in relation to the adoption of certain engineering
solutions first-hand.46
46. In June 2017, in cooperation with the ATTA Group we organized a meeting with the
participation of, among others, Deputy Mufti of the Crimean Muslims A. Ismailov, chairman
of the regional NGO – “Crimean Tatar Society ‘INKISHAF’” – E. Bilyalov, chairman and
imam of the Muslim Religious Community “Mustafa-Dzhami” E. Mustafaev and S.
Suleymanov, representatives of the Crimean Tatar community Z. Osmanov, N. Yakubov, S.
40 Reports are still being sent.
41 Letter from V.L. Martynyuk, General Director of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea
“Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, to the Minister of Culture of the Republic of
Crimea No. 74, 27 January 2017 (Annex 578).
42 Letter from V.L. Martynyuk, General Director of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea
“Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, to the Minister of Culture of the Republic of
Crimea No. 168, 17 February 2017 (Annex 579).
43 Report on the inspection of a part of the ensemble – “Khan Mosque”, 11 December 2017 (Annex 699).
44 Progress report in relation to priority emergency and restoration works at the cultural heritage site “Khan’s Palace” for
13 April 2018 - 19 April 2018, 19 April 2018 (Annex 601).
45 Progress report in relation to priority emergency and restoration works at the cultural heritage site “Khan’s Palace” for
25 May 2018 - 1 June 2018, 4 June 2018 (Annex 602).
46 Letter from V.L. Martynyuk, General Director of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea
“Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, to the First Deputy Minister of Culture of the
Republic of Crimea No. 73, 30 January 2018 (Annex 587);
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Sodiev as well as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Russian
Federation for Ethnic Affairs, R. Balbek, where we discussed priority emergency works at the
Khan Mosque and the issue of informing the public about the said works.47
47. In 2017–2018, representatives of the Crimean Tatar community took part in meetings dedicated
to emergency and repair and restoration works at the sites of the Khan’s Palace where the former
expressed their desire to monitor the works on a regular basis.48 For our part, we created all
conditions so that members of the Muslim religious community “Mustafa-Dzhami”, the
Crimean Tatar community, the Council of Crimean Tatars at the Head of the Republic of
Crimea, and other representatives of the Crimean Tatar community could be involved in the
discussions and monitoring of the works. Later on, members of the public several times visited
the Khan Mosque for monitoring purposes.
d. Use of the Khan Mosque during the works aimed at the preservation and upon
completion of specific stages
i. Access of visitors to the premises of the Khan's Palace and Khan Mosque
48. During the performance of priority emergency and repair and restoration works at the cultural
heritage sites of federal significance “Khan Mosque” and “Main Building”, the Museum-
Reserve operated normally, except on rare occasions when, pursuant to written requests of
representatives of the contractor, works involving heavy equipment were carried out.49 In such
cases, guided tour itineraries were temporarily modified to ensure safety of the visitors.
49. Religious service during the emergency works on the roof of the Khan Mosque (November
2016 – September 2018), as well as prior to such works, was temporarily suspended due to the
critical condition of the building’s roof.
50. Once the priority emergency works on the roof of the Mosque were completed in August 2018,
Hajji E. Ablayev, Mufti of the Muslims of the Crimea, Chairman of the
Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, who asked to
render assistance in the resumption of religious service and Muslim spiritual practices in the
territory of the Mosque.50 Having consulted with the Corporation ATTA Group LLC and
47 Minutes of the meeting in relation to the progress of performance of state contract for works at the sites of the Federal
Target Program “Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol until 2020” – the
Bakhchisaray Palace and Park Complex (Khan’s Palace), 13 June 2017 (Annex 695).
48 Ibid. See also Letter from the First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Crimea to V.L. Martynyuk, General
Director of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and
Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, 26 January 2018 (Annex 586); Letter from V.L. Martynyuk, General Director of the
State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-
Reserve”, to the First Deputy Minister of Culture of the Republic of Crimea No. 73, 30 January 2018 (Annex 587).
49 See e.g. Letter from the First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Cultural Heritage Preservation of the
Republic of Crimea to to V.L. Martynyuk, General Director of State Budgetary Institution “Bakhchisaray Historical,
Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve” No. 9453/01-05, 8 December 2017 (Annex 583).
50 Letter from E. Ablayev, Mufti of Muslims of Crimea, to V.L. Martynyuk, General Director of the State Budgetary
Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, No. 534,
2 August 2018 (Annex 605).
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ascertained that it was safe to be inside the Khan Mosque’s building,51 we opened the building
of the Mosque to visitors since September 2018.52
51. Religious service was held up until January 2020 when access to the territory of the Mosque
was suspended due to the commencement of a new stage of repair and restoration works in the
Khan Mosque.53 Moreover, since 19 March 2020, access to the territory of the entire ensemble
of the Khan’s Palace was closed to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (2019-
nCoV) in the Republic of Crimea.54
52. In August 2020, after the coronavirus restrictions were lifted, we began to receive requests for
the resumption of Friday prayers at the Mosque,55 however, on the advice from Kiramet, LLC,
the developer of research and design documents for the preservation of the monument,56 we
took a decision to postpone Friday prayers until protective nets and screens were installed on
certain parts of the Mosque in order to ensure safety during visits.57
ii. Cultural and educational events held by the Museum-Reserve
53. Between 2017 and 2020, to promote the historic and cultural heritage of Crimean Tatars, the
staff of the Museum-Reserve organized a wide range of cultural and educational events.
54. The most important events included those held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary since
the establishment of the Museum-Reserve, including the exhibition “Three Religions – One
Land”, where various religious items pertaining to three religions – Christianity, Karaimism
and Islam – were displayed.58
55. We have also prepared and published a series of historical compilations and catalogues of items
displayed in the Museum-Reserve dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Museum, including:
51 Letter from Corporation ATTA Group LLC to the Chairman of the Local Muslim Organization “Mustafa-Dzhami”,
No. 134-К-18, 8 August 2018 (Annex 606).
52 Millet, Reconstruction of the Mosque of the Khan’s Palace in Bakhchisaray (Crimea), 14 September 2018 (Annex
1229).
53 Letter from V. Martynyuk, General Director of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray
Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve” to E. Ablayev, Mufti of Muslims of Crimea, No. 12, 13
January 2020 (Annex 610).
54 State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-
Reserve”, Order of General Director No. 7-AKh, 17 March 2020 (Annex 616).
55 See e.g. Letter from Chairman of the Local Muslim Organization “Mustafa-Dzhami” to V.L. Martynyuk, General
Director of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and
Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, 10 August 2020 (Annex 628).
56 Letter from Yu. Ivanishkina, General Director of Kiramet LLC to V.L. Martynyuk, General Director of the State
Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-
Reserve”, No. 16/08-20, 19 August 2020 (Annex 631).
57 Letter from V. Martynyuk, General Director of the State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray
Historical, Cultural and Archaeological Museum-Reserve” to the Chairman of the Local Muslim Religious Organization
“Mustafa-Dzhami” No. 910, 26 August 2020 (Annex 632).
58 U.N. Ramazanova, Five Centuries – Five Steps: Dedicated to the 100th Anniversary since the Establishment of the
Bakhchisaray Museum, State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Bakhchisaray Historical, Cultural and
Archaeological Museum-Reserve”, Konstanta, Belgorod, 2019 (Annex 1096).
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a. catalogues of hand-written and black-lettered Qurans from the Museum’s
collection,59
b. household items from the Khan’s Palace,60
c. the Museum’s jewellery collection61 as well as
d. the anniversary edition “Five Centuries – Five Steps: Dedicated to the 100th
Anniversary since the Establishment of the Bakhchisaray Museum” containing
summary information about the Museum’s history, its structural divisions, displays
and fund collections, as well as texts of reports presented at a gala scientific
meeting dedicated to the Museum’s anniversary.
e. Reaction of the public
56. I cannot help but note that the overriding majority of worshippers, Muslims and Crimean Tatars
were satisfied with the outcome, which is evidenced among others by a number of interviews
given by worshippers to the Millet TV channel in view of the opening of the Khan Mosque for
visitors in September 2018.62
57. At the same time, some active members of the public, most of whom have never visited the
Khan Mosque, expressed their disapproval with a number of engineering decisions made in the
course of priority emergency works. At the same time, they did not propose any acceptable and
urgent alternatives to the said measures.
I hereby confirm that the above information is true to my best knowledge and belief.
Date: 9 June 2021
Signature:
59 U.N. Ramazanova, Hand-Written and Black-Lettered Qurans in the Collection of Bakhchisaray Museum-Reserve:
Catalogue, Konstanta, Belgorod, 2016 (Annex 1052).
60 O.N. Alpashkina, Khan’s Palace Household Items in the Collection of the Bakhchisaray Museum-Reserve: Catalogue,
Antikva, Simferopol, 2017 (Annex 1063)
61 L.Z. Chubukchieva, Jewelry Art of the Crimean Tatars in the Collection of the Bakhchisaray Museum-Reserve:
Catalogue, Dolya Publishing House, Simferopol, 2015 (Annex 1050).
62 Millet, Reconstruction of the Mosque of the Khan's Palace in Bakhchisaray (Crimea), 14 September 2018 (Annex
1229).
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Annex 21
Expert Report of Dmitry Anatolievich Funk, Roman Alexandrovich
Starchenko, Valery Vladimirovich Stepanov and Sergey Valeryevich
Sokolovsky, 17 June 2021
EXPERT REPORT
Dmitry Anatolyevich Funk (editor)
Roman Alexandrovich Starchenko
Valery Vladimirovich Stepanov
Sergey Valeryevich Sokolovsky
17 June 2021
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INTRODUCTION
This Expert Report includes 3 chapters written by Roman Alexandrovich Starchenko, Valery
Vladimirovich Stepanov, Sergey Valeryevich Sokolovsky and edited by Dmitry Anatolyevich Funk.1
Questions for experts to address
The lawyers instructed by the Russian Federation asked me, Dmitry Anatolyevich Funk, and my
colleagues from the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
Roman Alexandrovich Starchenko, Valery Vladimirovich Stepanov and Sergey Valeryevich
Sokolovsky, to address the following topics in our expert report:
1. Potential criteria that may be used to determine that a person belongs to Crimean Tatar and
Ukrainian ethnicity. Description of a possible connection of political beliefs with the ethnicity of
these persons.
2. Brief description of the ethnic composition of the Crimean population in the 20th century and
at present.
3. Description of ethno-political processes in Crimea, particularly involving Crimean Tatars and
ethnic Ukrainians, since the end of the 1980s and until 18 March 2014, and from that date until
present.
1 Information concerning the experts’ professional experience is set out in Addendum 4 to this Expert report.
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CHAPTER I. Potential criteria that may be used to determine that a person belongs to Crimean
Tatar and Ukrainian ethnicity. Description of a possible connection of political beliefs with the
ethnicity of these persons
Summary of the main conclusions
1. Having reviewed objective and subjective criteria, suggested by Professor Sandra Fredman
in her Expert Report of 6 June 2018, including “culture, social and political identity, language,
religion”2, we concluded that the main source of ethnic identification (or if we use a widely popular
term in post-Soviet states – the source of one’s own “nationality”) is the self-identification of a
person. Such self-identification could be determined, inter alia, through opinion polls and influenced
by various individual and ever-changing criteria, some examples of which will be provided below.
2. From the conceptual point of view, the political factor is not included in most definitions and
models of ethnicity in existing scientific literature on the subject of definitions of ethnicity (see the list
of definitions in Addendum 1 to Chapter I of this Expert Report) which indicates that specialists
reached a consensus in this matter. As can be seen from results of the 2014 State Crimean population
census and the following opinion polls, and we will explore in more detail further in this report, it is
evident that Crimean Tatars and local Ukrainians have varying political loyalties and share plural
political views.
Criteria to be applied for determining ethnicity
3. Formal criteria for determining one’s nationality based on a citizen’s passport and other
documents became a thing of the past after a Soviet Union passport was abolished, and these criteria
are not considered principal and critical in the Crimean society now. However, some citizens applying
for a civil record to be made – in particular, when they register the birth of a child and their marriage
– seek to specify their ethnic affiliation.
4. In modern Russian Crimea, the main source of ethnic identification (or if we use a widely
popular term in post-Soviet states – the source of one’s own “nationality”) is the self-identification
of a person. This principle is well-received by most people and was successfully put into practice
during the state census of 2014 and the micro-census of 2015, when Crimeans had an opportunity to
specify their ethnic identity in a census on a voluntary basis and at their own discretion. This principle
is welcomed by all groups of Crimean residents, including local Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars,
which is evidenced by their active participation in the censuses and their desire to tell their ethnic
identity to state census takers.3 Besides, during large-scale sociological polls conducted by Russian
research organisations, including the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian
Academy of Sciences, these population groups reply to questions about their ethnic identity in a calm
and keen manner. No more than 10–15% of people usually refuse to answer questions about their
2 Expert Report of Professor Sandra Fredman, 6 June 2018 (Annex 22 to UM), para. 3.
3 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring
and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), p. 34.
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“nationality”, and this situation in Crimea is in no way different from that in other Russian regions
with many population groups.4
Ukrainian Ethnicity in Crimea
5. It follows from interviews with poll participants that self-identification as a “male
Ukrainian/female Ukrainian” in Crimea rests on various criteria. The most widespread criterion is a
sense of belonging to a certain cultural tradition and one’s own origin (“my parents are ethnic
Ukrainians” or the place of birth (e.g. “I / my family come from Vinnitsa”), with adherence to
linguistic identity (“Ukrainian is my mother tongue”) having certain significance and the ability to
speak Ukrainian having little significance. Religious identity is of no importance – or a very rare
source of Ukrainian ethnic self-identification – in Crimea. It is important to note that, insofar as
Crimea is concerned, it is impossible or at least very hard to speak about any drastic differences in
ethnic and cultural self-identification between local Ukrainians and local Russians.
6. One example can be determination of ethnic identity upon affiliation with the country of
residence. Some Ukrainians in Crimea – who are Russian-speaking in the vast majority of cases –
determine their ethnic identity not only based upon culture and language but also upon their affiliation
with the country of residence.5 The only individual self-identification per person was and is accounted
for in official statistics of the USSR, post-Soviet Ukraine and Russia. Thus, when Crimea was part of
Ukraine, this portion of the Crimean population largely identified itself as Ukrainians, but when
Crimea became part of the Russian Federation, Russian identity gained an advantage in terms of selfidentification.
It is correct to call this portion of the Crimean population a Ukrainian-Russian one, in
which the priority of ethnic self-identification changes under the influence of events, including as a
result of census official accounting’s technical restrictions (registration single identity per person for
statistical purpose).
7. Generally, as compared with the 1989 and 2001 censuses, the proportion of Ukrainians in
Crimea decreased under the 2014 census. The previous censuses showed 25.8% and 24%
respectively, whereas the current percentage of Ukrainians became 15.1%. According to the 1989
census, there were 67.1% of Russians in Crimea, 60.4% in 2001, 65.3% in 2014. Numerically, if we
compare 2001 and 1989, Russians “lost” 179 thousand, whereas Ukrainians – 49 thousand. If we
compare figures with 2014, the proportion of Ukrainians decreased by 232 thousand, whereas that of
Russians increased by almost 42 thousand. The proportions above show that the 2001 census recorded
a transition of Russians into Ukrainians, whereas the 2014 census identified a reverse transition of
Ukrainians into Russians.6 It should be clarified that this change in the priority of ethnic selfidentification
is typical of Ukrainians living in other regions of Russia as well. It took place not only
in the 1990s, but under Soviet rule too. Fluctuations of identity are particularly common among
people of young and middle age. In view of this, Soviet and modern census results often feature such
4 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring
and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), p. 28. Notably, during the All-Crimean sociological poll conducted
by the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences just after the 2014 census, only 1.6%
of respondents declined to state their nationality.
5 V.A. Tishkov, V.V. Stepanov, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in the Crimean Federal District. Expert
Report for 2015”, Moscow–Simferopol: Antikva LLC, 2016 (Annex 1167), pp. 7, 8.
6 Ibid.
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a phenomenon as “generational assimilation”,7 where the demographic pyramid intended for persons
who self-identify as Ukrainians looks like an inverted triangle with a “narrowed bottom” when it
comes to children (i.e. there are numerically fewer of children and teen age “Ukrainians” than
“Ukrainians” of older ages).8 The younger a person is, the more likely he or she is to associate
personally himself or herself with the daily linguistic environment. It is a Russian linguistic
environment in Crimea. However, the older a person is, the more likely the priority of ethnic identity
is to be separate from the current linguistic environment.
8. Ethnically mixed households and ethnically mixed marriages, especially involving Ukrainians
and Russians, are widely popular in Crimea. According to the 2014 state census, 34% of Crimeans
lived in ethnically mixed households as at 1 October. Of the total number of ethnical Ukrainians in
Crimea, the two thirds (64%) lived in ethnically mixed households;9 of the number of married ethnic
Ukrainians, more than half were in mixed marriages (55%), with these being mostly Russian-
Ukrainian marriages.10
9. In mixed families and households, the ethnic self-identification of people is oftentimes
twofold, but, for technical reasons, state censuses record only a single self-identificaiton rather that a
twofold one.
10. After the jurisdiction of Crimea and Sevastopol changed in 2014, there was a shift to Russian
ethnic self-identification in the ethnically mixed Russian and Ukrainian population. In the previous
census in 2001, this population group mostly had a tendency towards Ukrainian ethnic selfidentification.
That demonstrates how the choice of self-identification is routinely influenced by the
state of residence.
Crimean Tatar Ethnicity in Crimea
11. Crimean Tatar ethnic self-identification is clearly premised upon a person’s understanding of
his or her origin and relatives, and upon personal or group history, first of all, the history associated
with the deportation initiated by Joseph Stalin and the ancestors’ place of residence in the Crimean
homeland. Religious affiliation and their own native tongue play a more or less important role in the
self-identification of Crimean Tatars. Group feelings, forms of group leisure, and holidays play a
certain role – decreasing in its significance.11
12. Experts single out several branches in the system of ethno-cultural orientations of Crimean
Tatars.12 According to these beliefs, Crimean Tatars mostly entertain an idea of their own ethnic
uniqueness among the Turks and in relation to other Tatars. Although no one disputes kinship or a
7 A.G. Vishnevsky, “Population of Russia in 2003-2004. Eleventh–Twelfth Annual Demographic Report”, Moscow:
Science, 2006 (Annex 1174), pp. 63–66.
8 According to the rules of state Russian and Ukrainian and even previous Soviet censuses, parents or legal representatives
choose the ethnicity (“nationality”) of their children.
9 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), Table 6.4.
10 Id., Table 4.14.
11 See I. Aydıngun and A. Aydıngun, “Crimean Tatars Return Home: Identity and Cultural Revival”, Journal of Ethnic
and Migration Studies, 2007, Vol. 33, No. 1, available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233186192_Crimean_Tatars_Return_Home_Identity_and_Cultural_Revival,
pp. 119-123.
12 V.A. Tishkov, A.N. Manuilov, V.V. Stepanov, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in the Crimean Federal
District. Expert Report for the First Half of 2015”, Moscow–Simferopol: Antikva LLC, 2015 (Annex 1194), pp. 7-8.
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certain cultural affinity with Kazan Tatars, as a rule there is still a distinct and very popular attitude
– “we are an individual people”. One may offer arguments of a historical, ethnographic and even
physical and anthropological nature in support of such uniqueness. Crimean Tatars are believed to be
composed of three groups: the so-called south-coasteners (the Yaliboylu), highlanders (the Tats), and
steppe-dwellers (the Noğays). Advocates of uniqueness think that it is this variety that creates a
special ethno-cultural environment. The separative course of the ethnic group of Crimean Tatars was
strenuously implemented among them in the last quarter of the 20th century, as a consequence of
which Crimean Tatars no longer associated their history with the Golden Horde, Chingisids states,
and Genghis Khan himself. One could discern a focus on the cultural heritage of ancient Crimean
peoples – the Taurians, Scythians, Goths13 – in various journalistic works and political statements of
Crimean Tatar leaders. Such an interpretation dominated in the Crimean Tatar environment and
revealed a desire to achieve “ethnic statehood”.
13. Not only leaders, but a large portion of the Crimean Tatar population had sought state
recognition of their status of an indigenous people for more than twenty years (since the mass
repatriation to the Crimean Peninsula at the end of the 1980s), however the authorities of the
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic and then those of independent Ukraine would not meet their
demands. In attempting to justify their intentions, proponents of a Crimean Tatar ethnic autonomy
across Crimea invoked the period when the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic14 was
part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1921–1946.
14. The Turkish “vector” is yet another branch of ethno-cultural orientation of Crimean Tatars. It
is neither large-scale, nor popular at present time, but some portion of the population still sets great
store by a historical analogy when the Crimean Khanate – enjoying certain autonomous rights – was
part of the Ottoman Porte, and the south coast and the area of Kerch were under the jurisdiction of
Porte as a vilayet.
Political beliefs as a factor for establishing ethnicity
15. We note that, as stated above, the political factor is not included in most definitions and
models of ethnicity in existing scientific literature on the subject. If one looks at the situation in
Crimea, it will become apparent that political beliefs vary across ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatar
population, and representatives of these communitities certainly do not associate themselves with
these groups because of the shared view that Crimea is a part of Ukraine. At the same time, shared
views on certain political issues can be typical of Crimeans irrespective of their ethnic selfidentification.
16. Generally, as regards political attitudes and political beliefs, there is evidence for certain unity
of political views among Russians, Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars and other ethnic communities in
Crimea which follows, for instance, from results of voting for reunification and – indirectly – choice
of the citizenship.
13 V.A. Tishkov, A.N. Manuilov, V.V. Stepanov, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in the Crimean Federal
District. Expert Report for the First Half of 2015”, Moscow–Simferopol: Antikva LLC, 2015 (Annex 1194), pp. 7-8. See
also Sh. E. Mustafaev, “Certain Aspects of Ethnogenesis of Crimean Tatars”, History and Modernity, 2007, No. 1, p. 206-
207.
14 When it was part of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, it was called the Autonomous Soviet Socialist
Republic of Crimea until 1929 and then renamed to the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
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7
17. The results of the Crimean referendum of 16 March 2014 confirmed the overall desire to
reunite with the Russian Federation since the Crimeans participated in the referendum in very large
numbers. 83.1% of people aged 18 and over took part in the referendum in the Autonomous Republic
of Crimea and 89.5% in Sevastopol. 96.77% of them voted for the reunification with the Russian
Federation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and 95.6% in Sevastopol.15
18. Although those Crimeans who opted for Russian citizenship do not have to report on having
a second citizenship, according to the 2014 census, some citizens of the peninsula – not many – have
second citizenships (see below) and two passports for down-to-earth reasons. Following the state
census in Crimea, as at 1 October 2014, of the entire population, 94.8% of people specified that they
had Russian citizenship, including 5.7 thousand people (0.3%) saying that they had dual citizenship.
In aggregate, people with dual citizenship together with Russian citizenship, as well as foreign
nationals and people who did not specify their citizenship, accounted for around 5.3% of the entire
Crimean population. This is five times lower than the number of ethnic Ukrainians and Tatars living
in Crimea.16
Table 1. Crimeans’ responses about citizenship in the 2014 census in Crimea
People %
The entire population of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol 2,284,769 100.0
People who specified their citizenship 2,220,113 97.2
People who did not specifiy their citizenship 64,656 2.8
Russian nationals 2,164,890 94.8
including Russian nationals who specified that they had dual citizenship 5,738 0.3
Foreign nationals
51,823 2.3
19. During a census conducted in October 2014, the absolute majority of residents of the peninsula
identified themselves as Russian citizens – 2.17 million people or 97.5%, with this figure being 97.6%
in the Republic of Crimea and 96.8% in Sevastopol. 46.4 thousand people (2.1% of the population)
answered that they had Ukrainian citizenship, with 5.4 thousand people (0.2%) answering that they
had citizenship of other states, and 3.4 thousand people (0.15%) answering that they had no
citizenship. Of the under-working age population, 97.7% are Russian citizens, of the working age
population – 97.0% are Russian citizens, of the above-working age population – 98.6% are Russian
citizens. There are slightly fewer Russian citizens in the age interval of 15–34 years (96.4%) and 20–
24 years (96%).17
20. According to the results of the state census conducted in Crimea in October 2014 ethnic
Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars comprise 28.3% of all population on the peninsula (or 26.3% if we
do not consider the Tatar population without “Crimean” in self-identification). As already
demonstrated above, this census showed that the absolute majority of residents of the Crimean
peninsula, including ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, identified themselves as Russian citizens
15 V.A. Tishkov, V.V. Stepanov, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in the Crimean Federal District. Expert
Report for 2015”, Moscow–Simferopol: Antikva LLC, 2016 (Annex 1167), pp. 7, 8.
16 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), p. 119, table 4.13.
17 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring
and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), pp. 21–23.
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8
– 97.5%. Only 2.1% of the local population answered that they had Ukrainian citizenship; 0.2%
answered that they had citizenship of other states, and 0.15% answered that they had no citizenship.
21. Moreover, as observation and polls conducted among Crimean Tatars suggest, approximately
half of them in 2016 welcomed the historical reunification of Crimea with Russia, and associated
themselves with Russia as a country of citizenship.
Table 2. Responses of the residents of Simferopol, the capital of Crimea, to the question (“In your
perception, what is your county of citizenship?”)18
Ethnic Russians Ethnic Ukrainians Crimean Tatars
- Russia 91.1 47.6 37.5
- Ukraine 0.5 14.3 5.0
- Russia and Ukraine 5.8 19.1 17.5
- Other 1.2 3.2 7.5
- It is hard for me to say 1.2 15.9 31.3
- No response 0.2 0.0 1.3
100 100 100
22. The census results in municipals territories of Crimea are also indicative of Crimean Tatars’
desire to be Russian citizens. According to that census, the highest number of Crimean Tatars (18.6
thousand people) from among the locals is in the Belogorsk Municipal District where they comprise
30.8%. Additionally, 97.6% of the locals in that district said they were Russian citizens, meaning that
all or almost all local Crimean Tatars ranked themselves among Russian citizens. The same situation
is in the Kirov District where Crimean Tatars comprise 28.6% from among the locals, and the
percentage of people with Russian citizenship was 98.3%. The same situation is in the Soviet
(Sovetsky) district where Crimean Tatars comprise 25.3% from among the locals, whereas 98.3%
said they had Russian citizenship. The same situation is in the Bakhchisaray District where Crimean
Tatars comprise 23.4% from among the locals, and the percentage of people with Russian citizenship
was 98.1%, and so on. There is no point in arguing that all these results were obtained because people
were purportedly “forced” or “threatened” to call themselves Russian citizens since census forms had
no first and last names of respondents.
23. For historical reasons it would also be fundamentally wrong to assert that the uniform loyalty
to Crimea’s status as part of the sovereign territory of Ukraine was and remains typical to all Crimean
Tatars as most or some of them have been always desiring to achieve “ethnic statehood” or – at the
very least – an ethnic autonomy in Crimea.
18 A survey of 600 respondents of the adult population aged 18 and more. See V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V.
Stepanov, “Civic Identity and Inter-ethnic Relations in Crimea. Field Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: Letny Sad, 2016 (Annex
1200), p. 72.
Annex 21
9
ADDENDUM 1
EXAMPLES OF SOCIAL SCIENCES DEFINITIONS OF ETHNICITY / ETHNIC
IDENTITY
Race/ethnicity (new definition)19
Categories developed in 1997 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that are used to
describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or belong in the eyes of the community.
The categories do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins. The designations are
used to categorize U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and other eligible non-citizens. Individuals are asked
to first designate ethnicity as:
• Hispanic or Latino or
• Not Hispanic or Latino
Second, individuals are asked to indicate one or more races that apply among the following:
• American Indian or Alaska Native
• Asian
• Black or African American
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
• White
The U.S. National Center for Education Statistics, Definitions for New Race and Ethnicity
Categories, available at: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/report-your-data/race-ethnicity-definitions
Ethnie? is a “a group of human beings who possess, more or less for the most part, a common
sociocultural heritage, particularly language”.
Larousse (1930)
Cit. on: R.J.C. Young, Race and Language in the Two Saussures
In: P. Osborne, S. Sandford (eds.), Philosophies of Race and Ethnicity, L.: Continuum, 2002, p. 66.
“The most important pressures involved in the selection of ethnic reference groups appear to be: (1)
the desire to express social distance or solidarity …; (2) expedience or the immediate advantages to
be gained by a particular group selection on a particular occasion; and (3) consideration of social
status and upward or downward social mobility”.
J.A. Nagata, What is a Malay? Situational selection of ethnic identity in a plural society,
American Ethnologist, 1974, Vol. 1, No. 2, p. 340.
19 This is given as an example of the ostensive definition (i.e. a definition based on simply enumerating specific objects
of classification).
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“Ethnic community (or ‘ethnie’)” is “a named human population of alleged common ancestry, shared
memories and elements of common culture with a link to a specific territory and a measure of
solidarity”.
A.D. Smith, Culture, community and territory: the politics of ethnicity and nationalism,
International Affairs, 1996, Vol. 72, No. 3, p. 446.
A preferred definition rests on the idea of an “ethnic group.” This definition would appeal to ancestry,
a shared history, and a common language and culture, possibly including religion. Other
commentators have then argued that “a necessary accompaniment” would be “some consciousness
of kind among members of the group”
C. Mackerras, China’s ethnic minorities and globalisation, London: Routledge, 2003, p. 3.
Combining the definitions and interpretations of identity and ethnicity, it can be concluded that they
mean, or at minimum imply, the sameness of a band or nation of people who share common customs,
traditions, historical experiences, and, in some cases, geographical residence.
T. Vunidilo, Museums and Identity: Celebrating Diversity in an Ethnically Diverse World.
In: S. Ratuva (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Ethnicity, Singapore: Springer Nature,
2019, p. 1946.
“[E]thnic groups are historically given collectivities which have both objective and subjective
characteristics, that is, their members acknowledge sharing common traits such as language, culture
or religion, as well as a sense of belonging <...> Ethnic boundaries are socially constructed and may
be more or less permeable <...> Ethnic group identity is the result of internal factors (common
lifestyles, shared beliefs), but also the outcome of relations the group entertains with other distinct
but similarly constituted groups and with the state in any given country”.
R. Stavenhagen, Ethnic conflicts and the nation state, London: Macmillan, 1996, p. 4.
“[We] will be defining an ethnic group broadly—as opposed to narrowly in terms of biological
similarities—as a people “who identify themselves or are identified by others in cultural terms, such
as language, religion, tribe, nationality, and possibly race.”»
J.R. Rudolph, Politics and ethnicity: a comparative study, N.Y.: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006, p. 2.
“[A]ny group differing in terms of language, religion, skin color, and race from other groups in the
community is considered an ethnic group”
Ghoshchi, Naderi 2014: 64;
Cit. on: M. Entezarulmahdy, Consequences of Globalization for the Middle East Political
Geography
In: S. Ratuva (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Ethnicity, Singapore: Springer Nature, 2019, p. 778.
Annex 21
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Ethnicity is “a phenomenon of social differentiation in which actors use cultural or phenotypical
markers or symbols to distinguish themselves from others. It is a method of classifying people into
categories which include individuals of both sexes and all age groups using (socially constructed)
origin as its primary reference.”
Gabbert W. Ethnicity in history
In: Ethnicity as a Political Resource. Conceptualizations across Disciplines, Regions, and Periods,
Cologne: Transcript Verlag, 2016, p. 186.
Annex 21
12
CHAPTER 2. Brief description of the ethnic composition and linguistic preferences of the
Crimean population in the 20th century and at present
24. The current Crimean population primarily consists of the following ethnic groups: Russians
(68%), Ukrainians (16%), Crimean Tatars and Tatars (13%).
25. According to the 2014 Russian census, the number of ethnic Crimean Tatars has increased.
According to the only Ukrainian census of 2001, in Crimea, there were 245.3 thousand Crimean
Tatars and 13.6 thousand Tatars who did not specify they were “Crimean”, and the total number of
the above groups amounted to 258.9 thousand people. The 2014 Russian census in Crimea revealed
that there were 232.3 thousand Crimean Tatars and 45 thousand Tatars (of whom, the majority are
Crimean Tatars who did not specify in their self-identification that they were “Crimean”), and their
total number amounted to 277.3 thousand people. Therefore, this population group increased by 7.1%
in Crimea between the censuses.
26. As compared with the 1989 and 2001 state censuses, the proportion of ethnic Ukrainians in
Crimea decreased under the 2014 census. The previous censuses showed 25.8% and 24%
respectively, whereas the current percentage of Ukrainians became 15.1%. According to the 1989
census, there were 67.1% of ethnic Russians in Crimea, 60.4% in 2001, 65.3% in 2014. Numerically,
if we compare 2001 and 1989, ethnic Russians “lost” 179 thousand, whereas ethnic Ukrainians – 49
thousand. If we compare figures with 2014, the proportion of Ukrainians decreased by 232 thousand,
whereas that of Russians increased by almost 42 thousand. The proportions above show that the 2001
census likely recorded a transition of ethnic Russians into ethnic Ukrainians, whereas the 2014 census
identified a reverse transition of Ukrainians into Russians. Overall, the mobility of ethnic conversion
in official statistics indicates that there are no fundamental differences between the categories
“Russian” and “Ukrainian” in Crimea.
27. From the perspective of linguistic preferences, the vast majority of Crimeans are Russianspeaking,
i.e. regardless of their ethnicity, they mostly use Russian in everyday life – in the family,
public places, at work. The 2014 census showed that 99.4% of inhabitants of the Crimean Peninsula
had a command of Russian, in particular, 99.8% of local Ukrainians and 99.5% of Crimean Tatars
said they had a command of Russian. 79.7% of Ukrainians and 8.7% of Crimean Tatars and Tatars
said that Russian was their native language. Of the total number of Crimeans, 84.1% consider Russian
their native language.
Largest ethnic groups and their distribution
28. There are no secluded and isolated ethnic groups in Crimea and almost all cultures and
languages are closely interlinked, their fates are intertwined in families, everyday life, and everyday
situations. The tapestry of ethnic diversity in Crimea is an indispensable fabric of Crimeans’ cultural
unity. Moreover, the Russian-language and Russian-culture environment is historically common, and
this state of things is likely to continue going forward. Crimeans universally know and speak Russian.
According to the 2014 Russian census, 99.4% of inhabitants of the Crimean Peninsula, including
99.8% of local Ukrainians and 99.5% of Crimean Tatars, know Russian.20 According to the 2001
20 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), pp. 119, 122, 124.
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Ukrainian census, 77% of Crimeans answered that Russian was their native language.21 However, the
Ukrainian census did not reveal the command of Russian, which was even more universal in Crimea.
The universal command of Russian was revealed in the last Soviet census of 1989 – 96.9%.22 It is a
convention – to a certain degree – to divide the population into “nationalities” or ethnic categories
since there is oftentimes a complex or mixed identity resulting from the common linguistic
environment and a large number – one third – of mixed families (see below). However, government
statistics of pre-Soviet and Soviet times as well as modern statistics use formal indicators based on a
“clear” division of the population into national categories. In light of this, the most recent and
complete official data relating to the ethnic composition of the Crimean population were obtained in
October 2014 when a Russian census was held in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol (there was
one census in Crimea (2001) when it was under the jurisdiction of post-Soviet Ukraine).
29. In 2014, the Crimean census revealed 175 ethnic nationalities, including very rare ones for
the region, e.g. Nigerians (147 people), Dagestani (65 people), Cameroonians (51 people), and 40
others. 29 nationalities were most widespread during that census, with the four largest ones being:
Russians, Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, and Tatars, which totally comprise more than 2 million people
or 96% of the entire Crimean population. As a state census records direct replies of the people
concerning their ethnic self-identification, some Crimean Tatars are recorded – according to the
respondents themselves – as “Tatars” without mentioning that they are “Crimean”.
30. The other groups accounted for a mere 3.8% of the population, of which – in terms of statistics
rather than everyday life – the most notable ones are Belarusians (21.7 thousand people, 1% of the
population) and Armenians (11 thousand people, 0.5% of the population). There are very small groups
of Karaites and Krymchaks in Crimea. The census number of Karaites is 535 people. There are only
228 Krymchaks, and they live in Simferopol – 104 people, Sevastopol and subordinate residential
settlements – 51 people, and fewer than 50 people in Kerch and Feodosia, and the Simferopol
District.23
31. Given that a policy of deliberate Ukrainisation was consistently pursued in Crimea only
between 1991–2013 when the peninsula was part of the post-Soviet state of Ukraine, there are no
fundamental differences between ethnic Russians and Ukrainians. On the contrary, Russians and
Ukrainians in Crimea are a single society in terms of everyday culture, state of mind, worldview,
language, spiritual culture, denomination. This is illustrated even by statistical results of the 2014
census where the two thirds of ethnic Ukrainians in Crimea live in ethnically mixed – mostly Russian
and Ukrainian – familities and households (see Chapter 1 for more detail). The same census revealed
that the Russian language prevailed among Crimean Ukrainians – almost 100% of them use it in
21 See Linguistic composition of population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in State Statistics Committee of
Ukraine, All-Ukrainian population census’ 2001, General results of the census (Annex 765).
22 The 1989 census revealed that there were 1,626,821 ethnic Russians, 381,778 persons of other ethnicity whose native
language was Russian, 347,531 persons of other ethnicity who had a command of Russian. With that said, the total number
of Crimeans who had a command of Russian amounted to 2,356,130 or 96.9% of the population. In particular, 87.4% of
Crimean Tatars and 90.6% of local Ukrainians had a command of Russian (Results of the All-Soviet Census of 1989, vol.
7, part 2, Table 6. Distribution of the population of the USSR by the most numerous nationalities and language (Annex
437).
23 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring
and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), pp. 15–17.
Annex 21
14
everyday life, whereas 80% of them consider Russian their native language. In view of the above, it
is possible to discern one ethno-cultural population group in Crimea rather than two.24
32. When the Crimean Peninsula was part of post-Soviet Ukraine, it did not forfeit its Russianculture
background: according to the 2014 Russian census, most local Ukrainians said that Russian
was their native language (79.7%), with this figure being 8.7% among Crimean Tatars, 92% among
Germans, 47% among Armenians, and so on. As regards having a command of Russian, the vast
majority of Crimeans have it (97.4%), including basically all Ukrainians (99.5%) and Crimean Tatars
(99.5%).
33. The 2014 census revealed that – in terms of the demographic composition – the Republic of
Crimea and Sevastopol have a higher proportion of the Russian population as compared with the 2001
all-Ukrainian census. This is primarily due to a parallel or dual ethnic identity and its evolution when
some people of mixed Russian and Ukrainian origin later identify themselves as Russians.25
Table 1. Population Composition by National Affiliation According to the 2014 Crimean Population
Census
Crimea in total Republic of Crimea Sevastopol
people % people % people %
People who
specified their
national
affiliation 2,197,564 1100 1,823,692 100 373,872 100
Russians 1,492,078 67.9 1,188,978 65.2 303,100 81.1
Ukrainians 344,515 15.7 291,603 16.0 52,912 14.2
Crimean Tatars
and Tatars 277,336 12.6 271,780 14.9 5,556 1.5
Crimean Tatars 232,340 10.6 229,526 12.6 2,814 0.8
Tatars 44,996 2.0 42,254 2.3 2,742 0.7
Belarusians 21,694 1.0 17,919 1.0 3,775 1.0
Armenians 11,030 0.5 9,634 0.5 1,396 0.4
Azerbaijani 4,432 0.2 3,738 0.2 694 0.2
Uzbeks 3,466 0.2 3,265 0.2 201 0.1
Moldavians 3,147 0.1 2,573 0.1 574 0.2
Jews 3,144 0.1 2,543 0.1 601 0.2
Koreans 2,983 0.1 2,820 0.2 163 0.0
Greeks 2,877 0.1 2,646 0.1 231 0.1
Poles 2,843 0.1 2,435 0.1 408 0.1
Gypsies 2,388 0.1 2,381 0.1 7 0.0
Chuvash 1,990 0.1 1,529 0.1 461 0.1
Bulgarians 1,868 0.1 1,506 0.1 362 0.1
Germans 1,844 0.1 1,648 0.1 196 0.1
Mordvins 1,601 0.1 1,334 0.1 267 0.1
Georgians 1,571 0.1 1,280 0.1 291 0.1
24 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), p. 119.
25 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring
and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), p. 56.
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Crimea in total Republic of Crimea Sevastopol
people % people % people %
Turks 1,465 0.1 1,413 0.1 52 0.0
Tajiks 874 0.04 798 0.04 76 0.02
Mari 801 0.04 723 0.04 78 0.02
Bashkirs 764 0.03 602 0.03 162 0.04
Udmurts 670 0.03 570 0.03 100 0.03
Ossetians 659 0.03 492 0.03 167 0.04
Kazakhs 628 0.03 509 0.03 119 0.03
Arabs 559 0.03 516 0.03 43 0.01
Karaites 535 0.02 500 0.03 35 0.01
Krymchaks 228 0.01 177 0.01 51 0.003
others 9,574 0.4 7,780 0.4 1,794 0.5
* Crimean Tatars and Tatars are counted separately and aggregately since some Crimean Tatars
specified “Tatar” as their national affiliation.
34. The ethnic composition of the population of Crimea and Sevastopol has largely remained the
same since the middle of the 1990s, i.e. a time period when 80% of Crimean Tatars (out of 260.4
thousand people arrived in Crimea in 1988–2013) had already relocated to the peninsula from Central
Asia. Having annual information about the passport registration of the number of Crimean Tatars
relocating to the peninsula26 and comparing it with government censuses in Crimea held in 1989 (the
USSR), 2001 (Ukraine), 2014 (Russia), it is possible to conclude with a high degree of reliability that,
as at 1994–1995, the proportion of Crimean Tatars among the region’s population reached 10–12%.
This proportion still remains in place. The total number of Crimean Tatars and Tatars in Crimea and
Sevastopol in 2014 was 277.3 thousand people or 12.6% of the population (see below in detail). It is
an erroneous belief that a large part of Crimean Tatars has not returned to Crimea yet and that for this
reason the ethnic composition of the peninsula’s population is going to change fundamentally.27 In
the next decades, the number and proportion of Crimean Tatars in Crimea are going to depend not on
migration but on natural demographic growth (correlation between birth rate and death rate) and
social and cultural processes of ethnic self-identification of the local population. See below for the
repatriation pattern and the number of Crimean Tatars in Crimea over the previous years.
35. Let us provide more specific information regarding the ethnic composition of Crimea
employing formal statistical categories. When discussing the data from the censuses (and other
sociological research) we will use the ethnic categories based on self-identification in those contexts,
unless specified otherwise. Russians in Crimea are the most widespread variant of ethnic self-
26 Crimean Tatars, as well as all citizens of the former USSR, had an entry about their nationality in their passports. They
used these passports until the early 2000s and still use them as a supporting archival document. According to the
registration regulations that were in force in the USSR, Ukraine, and Crimea in post-Soviet decades, passport offices’
officials copied this information into migration registration documents in respect of every person who came to reside
permanently in Crimea. Children’s documents were also filled in on the basis of birth certificates. Besides, a statistical
list of arrival was filled in for every person where his or her nationality was specified, and then these lists underwent
statistical processing.
27 “Not all the Crimean Tatars have repatriated. In fact, it is estimated that at least 200,000 Crimean Tatars remain in
places of former exile. The largest concentration is in newly independent Uzbekistan, where some 100,000 Crimean
Tatars are believed to reside. […] The Crimean Tatars in Central Asia have various migration intentions. The vast majority
of individuals wish to return, but only some are able. The IOM estimates that roughly half of the Crimean Tatars living
in Uzbekistan would like to repatriate but face too many barriers”. See G.L. Uehling, “Beyond memory: the Crimean
Tatars’ deportation and return”, Palgrave Macmillan, 2004, pp. 42-43.
Annex 21
16
identification of the local population in Crimea. What is more, this has been the case for a long and
continuous historical period of time throughout the 20th century and to date. According to the modern
2014 census, Russians comprise 67.9% of the population, including 65.2% in the Republic of Crimea
and 81.1% in Sevastopol. The number of Russians in Crimea recorded during that census was 1.49
million people, including 1.19 million people in the Republic of Crimea and 303.1 thousand people
in Sevastopol. However, these are not ultimate figures because, as it is usually the case with censuses,
some portion of the population is not covered. In 2014, 87.2 thousand people chose not to specify
their national affiliation in the census form. Post-census research revealed that all nationalities,
including Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars, took part in the census in equal measure. Consequently,
the proportion of Russians who were not covered in the census should be the same as among
respondents who specified their national affiliation and amounts to 59.2 thousand people. In view of
the above, the total number of Russians in Crimea is likely to be 1.55 million people.28
36. Amid the processes of demographic aging and depopulation that engulfed many regions of
the former Soviet Union, including Crimea, it was to be expected that the Crimean population –
including Russians – would decrease. The Crimean population has decreased by 6% for over 25 years
since the 1989 census, and the number of Russians has decreased by 5–8% (there were 1.63 million
Russians in 1989). According to the all-Ukrainian census held in Crimea in 2001, the number of the
entire Crimean population had decreased by only 1.2% by that time, whereas the number of Russians
had decreased by 11%, that of Ukrainians – by 8%. Such differences are accounted for by not only
natural demographic processes and migration but also by a change in ethnic identities since there are
a great number of Russian-Ukrainian families in Crimea. For this reason, under Ukrainian rule the
census number of Russians in Crimea was decreasing faster, and that of Ukrainians was decreasing
slower due to a transition in identity from Russians to Ukrainians. Once Crimea became part of
Russia, there was a transition in identity from some Ukrainians to Russians. This is why the number
of Russians in Crimea in 2014 – when contrasted with the 2001 census – even slightly increased,
though the decrease was still significant compared to the Soviet period.
37. The census once again showed that the number of Russians is prevalent across Crimea and
especially large in all cities of Crimea – Simferopol (240.2 thousand people), Sevastopol (303.1
thousand people), Kerch (124.6 thousand people), Yalta (89.9 thousand people), Evpatoria (85
thousand people), Feodosia (77.5 thousand people), and in the largest districts – Simferopol (84.1
thousand people), Bakhchisaray (50.9 thousand people), Krasnogvardeysk (44.3 thousand people).
38. According to official censuses, Ukrainians are the second-largest group in Crimea (it will be
recalled that many Ukrainians live in mixed Russian-Ukrainian families). In 2014, there were 344.5
thousand people in Crimea or 15.7% of the population who identified themselves as “Ukrainians”,
with 291.6 thousand people (16% of the population) living in the Republic of Crimea and 52.9
thousand people (14.2% of the population) in Sevastopol. If we adjust their number by people who
did not specify their national affiliation in the census form for some reason, the total number of
Ukrainians in Crimea was even larger – 358.2 thousand people. The total number of Ukrainians in
the post-Soviet period mainly decreased because of demographic aging. However, as noted above,
the “shift” in self-identity and dual identity in the 1990s partially made up for a natural demographic
28 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring
and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), pp. 17–19.
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17
decrease (which was evident in the 2001 census). There was no such compensation in the 2014
Crimean census.
39. Apart from Sevastopol, Ukrainians identify themselves in significant numbers in such cities
as Simferopol (43.5 thousand people), Yalta (23.4 thousand people), Evpatoria (17.1 thousand
people), Kerch (12.1 thousand people), Feodosia (11.9 thousand people), and in such districts as
Simferopol (22.5 thousand people), Saky (16.2 thousand people), Dzhankoy (15.9 thousand people),
Krasnogvardeysk (15.5 thousand people), Bakhchisaray (11.6 thousand people). Ukrainians are
traditionally prevalent among the population in those districts that are territorially close to Ukraine,
including Krasnoperekop (32.5%) and Razdolnensk Districts (30.2%), cities of Krasnoperekopsk
(30.5%) and Armyansk (29.5%) and Pervomaysk, Dzhankoy, Saky Districts (over 20%).
40. Crimean Tatars are the third-largest group on the Crimean Peninsula. In terms of specific
population figures, it is important to take into consideration census counting problems. The 2001 all-
Ukrainian census was the only official source about Crimean Tatars for a long time during the post-
Soviet period. The census placed Crimean Tatars in Crimea at 245.3 thousand people. Moreover,
statisticians classified all “Tatars” born in Uzbekistan as “Crimean” ones. Besides, there were 13.6
“just” Tatars on the peninsula according to the Ukrainian census. Insofar as the 2014 census is
concerned, only those Crimean Tatars who identified themselves as “Crimean Tatars” were recorded
as such, and an additional 1.5 thousand people who said they were just “Tatars”, but their native
language was Crimean Tatar. This gives in total 232.3 thousand people in 2014, which is lower than
the number of Crimean Tatars according to the Ukrainian census. But this is the so-called “census
number”.29 Judging by formal criteria, it appeared that the number of Crimean Tatars had decreased,
which gave cause for an anti-Russian agenda (“Crimean Tatars are fleeing from the peninsula”,30
“Crimean Tatars avoided the census”,31 “do not want to cooperate with the authorities”,32 and so
forth). The reality is that the number of Crimean Tatars in Crimea has not decreased but increased
compared to 2001.33
41. According to the 2014 Russian census, there were 45 thousand “just” Tatars in Crimea who
did not clarify whether they were Crimean or non-Crimean ones. Taken at face value, the number of
“just” Tatars had more than tripled by the time Crimea became part of Russia since in the previous
29 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), pp. 108, 119.
30 See UNIAN, “Dzhemilev: 10,000 Crimean Tatars flee Crimea since Russian annexation”, 2 August 2015, available at:
https://www.unian.info/politics/1107260-dzhemilev-10000-crimean-tatars-flee-crimea-since-russian-annexation.html; F.
T. Aydın, “Crimean Tatars and Russia’s annexation of Crimea”, Turkish Policy, 2014, Vol. 13, No. 3, p. 89; ECFR,
“Europe’s duty to help protect Crimean Tatars”, 11 April 2019, available at:
https://ecfr.eu/article/commentary_europes_duty_to_protect_crimean_tatars.
31 See Krym.Realii, “Census in Crimea: To Boycott or Take Part?”, 8 October 2014, available in Russian at:
https://ru.krymr.com/a/26627710.html; Krym.Realii, “Why is there a Census in Crimea?”, 14 October 2014, available in
Russian at: http://ru.krymr.com/content/article/26636984.html.
32 See M. Žídková and H. Melichar, “Crimean Tatars Before and After the Annexation of Crimea: Identity, Societal
Security, and the Prospects of Violence”, ALPPI Annual of Language & Politics and Politics of Identity, 2015, No. 9, pp.
87-112, available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/291835091_Crimean_tatars_before_and_after_the_annexation_of_crimea_Ide
ntity_societal_security_and_the_prospects_of_violence.
33 For the adjusted number of Crimean Tatars here and elsewhere, see V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov,
“Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious
Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex
1204), pp. 39–40.
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18
Ukrainian census it was 13.6 thousand people. However there was no large-scale inflow of any Tatars,
except for Crimean ones, into the peninsula in between the two censuses – Ukrainian and Russian.
No population group could have grown by this much over such a demographically short period of
time because of natural growth. In truth, the majority of people who identified themselves as “Tatars”
during the 2014 census were Crimean Tatars. At the time of the Ukrainian census, the very name
“Crimean Tatars” was fraught with political and economic expectations, and it is likely that more
people underscored their “Crimean” identification in the hope of social benefits, assistance from
international organisations, and so forth.34 As time went by, political importance associated with
ethnic identity and social expectations withered, Crimean Tatars increasingly mixed back into the
peninsula’s population, numerous interpersonal, family, and professional ties were established, and
the everyday name “Tatars” became much more widespread. For this reason many Crimean Tatars
started calling themselves like this in everyday life.35 Some Crimean Tatars were therefore simply
called “Tatars” in the 2014 census. This is clearly evident if we take specific examples of village
residents where statistics says that numerous “non-Crimean” Tatars just “appeared” in villages where
there are very few other Tatars save for Crimean ones. For instance, Crimean Tatars that settled in
the village of Andrusovo (outside Simferopol) after their repatriation constitute the lesser part of the
population, with “just” Tatars – the greater one. But it is common knowledge that it is Crimean Tatars
who live in this village.36 Statistics says that there are 400 “just” Tatars per 1.5 thousand Crimean
Tatars in another large village of Strogonovka, though it is Crimean Tatars who settled in that village
after their repatriation. There is a similar situation in the village of Chistenkoe and others. With that
said, to understand the way things are in Crimea, it is necessary to count not only the separate number
of Crimean Tatars and Tatars but also their aggregate number.
42. The problem of mixed accounting of “Crimean Tatars” and “Tatars” existed before. The
number of other – non-Crimean – Tatars in Crimea, for instance, Kazan, Astrakhan, Siberian ones,
was always insignificant – some several thousand people. But Soviet censuses showed that there were
many of them on the peninsula for the reasons stated above and also since some people
understandably tried to conceal their affiliation with Crimean Tatars in Soviet times. According to
34 “Turkey supported the Ukrainian authorities’ efforts in assisting with the repatriation of Crimean Tatars. The Turkish
International Cooperation and Coordination Agency implemented a number of projects in Crimea, the total cost of which
amounted to USD 25 million, including the project “1,000 Houses” for Crimean Tatars […]. The Mejlis of the Crimean
Tatar People, which [was] as an intermediary when Turkish capital was attracted to the peninsula [before 2014], act[ed]
as a counterparty in Turkish and Crimean Tatar cooperation in Crimea. […] At the same time as the agency was ramping
up its activities on the Crimean “ground”, Crimea Foundation was established under the auspices of the Mejlis, and M.
Dzhemilev became its Chairman. The Foundation acts as the main partner of TİKA not only in Crimea, but generally in
Ukraine” (See K. N. Akhmadeev, “The Turkish factor in the Crimean Tatar ethnopolitical process”, Society: politics,
economics, law, 2018, No. 3 (Annex 1287), p. 3).
35 This is confirmed by a series of studies conducted by the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian
Academy of Sciences in Crimea in 2013–2020, according to which persons who identify themselves as “Tatars” often
specify that Crimean Tatar is their native language (for instance, see V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov,
“Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious
Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex
1204), pp. 17, 19; V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Civic Identity and Inter-ethnic Relations in Crimea.
Field Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: Letny Sad, 2016 (Annex 1200)).
36 According to the 2001 All-Ukrainian Census, 64.4% of local inhabitants of Andrusovo specified that Crimean Tatar
was their native language, whereas the lesser part of inhabitants (Russians and Ukrainians) specified that Russian was
their native language – 32.6%. See All-Ukrainian Census 2001, Division of the population by native language,
Autonomous Republic of Crimea (Annex 764).
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19
the last 1989 Soviet census, there were evidently too many “just” Tatars in Crimea – 10.8 thousand
people.37 In the present context in Crimea, this problem of mixed accounting of the number of
Crimean Tatars should be resolved by explicitly recognising the fact that some Tatars on the peninsula
– the greater part – are Crimean Tatars. The aggregate number of Crimean Tatars and Tatars in Crimea
for 2014 is 277.3 thousand people, and this figure is far closer to the accurate assessment of the
number of Crimean Tatars.38
43. Further, 85 thousand Crimeans taking part in the census did not have their nationality recorded
since the census rules state that if a person is not at home at the time a census is taken, only his or her
sex and age are recorded, while nationality is not. At least 10% of such unrecorded people are likely
to be Crimean Tatars. While it is sometimes argued that Crimean Tatars avoided the census, a postcensus
research of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences
revealed that Crimean Tatars had actively participated in the census, even more actively than other
population groups.
44. The aggregate number of Crimean Tatars and Tatars on the peninsula is just under 277.3
thousand people, which is 12.6% of the Crimean population (if we calculate their aggregate number
in the Ukrainian census, this figure was lower in 2011 – 10.8%). Besides, if we adjust their number
by people who did not specify their national affiliation in the census form for some reason, the total
number of Crimean Tatars and Tatars in modern Crimea is as high as 288.3 thousand people. These
results show that not only did not the current number of Crimean Tatars in Crimea decrease but, on
the contrary, it considerably increased.
45. The largest number of Crimean Tatars and Tatars live in the Simferopol District (37.9
thousand people) and Simferopol (33 thousand people) and the following districts: Bakhchisaray (25
thousand people), Belogorsk (20.4 thousand people), Krasnogvardeysk (17.8 thousand people),
Dzhankoy (17.7 thousand people), Kirov (16.7 thousand people), Saky (16.5 thousand people), Lenin
(10.3 thousand people).
46. The proportion of Crimean Tatars among the Crimean population varies by urban and country
areas, which should come as no surprise since two thirds of repatriates settled in country areas when
they were relocating to the peninsula. The 2014 census revealed that Crimean Tatars and Tatars
comprise 6.1% in Crimean cities and 21.3% in country areas. Crimean Tatars and Tatars comprise
the largest portion of the population in the following districts: Belogorsk (34.4%), Kirov (33.2%),
Soviet (28.6%), Bakhchisaray (27.7%), Dzhankoy (26.1%), Simferopol (25.3%), and in the city of
Sudak (24.7%), with this figure lower (20%) in the following districts: Pervomaysk, Saky,
37 The 1979 Soviet Census revealed that there were even more “just” Tatars – 15.1 thousand people. The point is that at
the time Crimean Tatars were not able to settle in Crimea in large numbers because it was unofficially prohibited to do
so by the government (e.g., see A. A. Ibraimov, “Ethnopolitical Processes in Crimea and their Impact on Russia’s Interests
in the Region”, Bulletin of the University, 2013, No. 8 (Annex 1302), p. 212). Therefore, to come to Crimea, Crimean
Tatars made use of the fact that their passports specified “Tatar” without “Crimean”. This is what they also reported to
census-takers during censuses. Most of them were not Kazan Tatars but Crimean Tatars. In previous censuses, the number
of “Kazan Tatars” was not separately counted. It is only after the 2014 Russian census in Crimea that it was found that
the number of people ethnically self-identified as “Kazan Tatars” was only 1.1 thousand people. See Federal Service of
State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census in the Crimean Federal District, 2015 (Annex
440), Table 4.15.
38 “The total number of Crimean Tatars and Tatars in 2014 was 277.3 thousand people, or 1,262 per 10,000 people who
indicated their national identity. In 2001, their total number was 7% lower and amounted to 258.9 thousand people (1,083
per 10,000 people who indicated their nationality)”. See Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation,
Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), p. 109.
Annex 21
20
Krasnoperekop, Krasnogvardeysk, Nizhnegorsk. Crimean Tatars and Tatars comprise 9.9% of the
population in Simferopol and 1.5% in Sevastopol.
Linguistic preferences
47. Crimeans’ ethnic diversity largely centers around the common language. Of the total number
of people recorded during the 2014 census, 2.26 million people (99.8%) answered that they had a
command of Russian, 97.4% of whom specified in their census forms that they had a command of
Russian. Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars are basically no different in terms of having a command of
Russian – 99.8% of Ukrainians and 98.5% of Crimean Tatars have it, and there are no significant
differences in the level of Russian proficiency in urban and country areas. One hundred percent of
local Estonians, Udmurts, Ossetians, Krymchaks in Crimea have a command of Russian, and near
one hundred percent of most other groups of Crimea, including Koreans, Poles, Bulgarians, Greeks,
Jews, Georgians, Germans, Karaites, and Armenians, do as well. 95% of Turks and Arabs living in
Crimea answered that they had a command of Russian.
48. Crimeans’ linguistic unity is evident if we take a look at native language census data.
Regardless of national affiliation, most people said in 2014 that Russian was their native language –
1.84 million people or 84.1%.39 More specifically, 99.8% of Russians, 79.7% of Ukrainians, 91.1%
of Belarusians, 97.7% of Jews, 95% of Krymchaks, 94% of Karaites, 92% of Germans, 86% of Poles,
81% of Bulgarians, and 73% of Moldavians opted for Russian as their native language, with 47% of
Armenians, 37% of Azerbaijani, 32% of Gypsies, and 8.7% of Crimean Tatars and Tatars giving the
same reply.
49. Additionally, 72.3 thousand people40 (of these, fewer than 2.5% did not specify that they had
a command of Russian41), mainly Ukrainians, replied that Ukrainian was their native language.
However 20.3% of all Ukrainians in Crimea treat Ukrainian as their native language. Further, 10%
of local Poles and 0.13% of Russians say that Ukrainian is their native language.
50. 172.3 thousand people,42 mainly Crimean Tatars, and a small number of Azerbaijani replied
that Crimean Tatar was their native language. 74% of Crimean Tatars said that Crimean Tatar was
their native language, with the same figure (74.5) among 33.4 thousand just “Tatars” who opted for
Tatar as their native language. Furthermore, 47.2 thousand Crimean Tatars, i.e. more than just
“Tatars”, answered during the census that Tatar was their native language. This is due to the fact that
Crimean Tatars oftentimes call the Crimean Tatar language the “Tatar” language. It is therefore
appropriate to provide an aggregate statistical figure for Crimean Tatar and Tatar. 252 thousand
Crimean Tatars and Tatars (91% of their aggregate number) answered that these languages were their
native ones.
51. As regards other languages that the population called their native ones, 66% of Gypsies said
that Gypsy was their native language, 53% of Armenians – Armenian, 18% of Bulgarians – Bulgarian,
39 Of the number of people who specified their national affiliation.
40 Without regard to the Ukrainian language of people who did not specify their national affiliation.
41 In the 2014 census, 1,704 Ukrainians, 10 poles, and several other people of other ethnicities, including people with
Ukrainian as the native language, did not specify that they had a command of Russian. Their total number – as correlated
with the number of people with Ukrainian as the native language – amounts to 2.5%.
42 Without regard to this language of people who did not specify their national affiliation.
Annex 21
21
15% of Greeks – Greek, 6% of Germans – German, 6% of Karaites – Karaite, 3% of Krymchaks –
Krymchak. The popular majority of these groups treat Russian as their native language.
52. Official data of the 2014 census also offer insight into the scale of ethnic mixing in Crimean
families. The census revealed 471 thousand married couples on the peninsula, including marriages
registered by state civil registry officers and unregistered marriages. In addition, most married couples
(461.3 thousand) specified their “national” (i.e. “ethnic”) affiliation. “Mono-national” married
couples comprise 72.4%, whereas mixed ones – 27.6%. Of the total number of married couples where
one or both spouses are Russian, “mono-national” marriages prevail (67%), with mixed ones – 32%.
Of married couples where one or both spouses are Crimean Tatars or Tatars, “mono-national”
marriages” comprise 75.7%, while mixed ones – 23.9%. In terms of married couples involving
Ukrainians, “mono-national” marriages are rarer – 29%, while the inter-ethnic marriage rate is high
(70%). Besides, low figures of “mono-national” marriages and high figures of mixed marriages are
characteristic of most other population groups of Crimea: Poles, Germans – 97%, Bulgarians,
Moldavians – 94%, Krymchaks, Karaites, Belarusians – 91%.
Historical background to modern ethnic composition
53. The modern ethnic background of Crimea has been forming for over two hundred years.43
Russian natives began settling in Crimea in the late 18th century even before the peninsula officially
became part of Russia. Back in 1774, when the Russian Empire acquired Kerch under the
Treaty of Karasubazar and Russian forces entered the territory of the Crimean Khanate, the first
Russian resettlers came to the peninsula. Crimean Tatars began emigrating en masse into Turkey in
the next two decades (and later on).44 According to Professor Magocsi during the Crimean Khanate
rule “[t]olerance and mutual socioeconomic and cultural interaction” were “the norm” for Crimea
society. But all that changed after 1783, when the Russian Empire “for the first time in history began
to rule Crimea”.45
54. While the Crimean Khanate existed between 1443 and 1783, it was independent only in the
first 32 years before the invasion of forces of a Turkish sultan in 1475 and soon became a vassal state
of Turkey for 300 years. It is only in 1774 that, once the Russo-Turkish war (1768–1774) was over,
Turkey recognised the independence of the Crimean Khanate under the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca,
43 Here and elsewhere, see Ya. E.Vodarsky, O. I. Eliseeva, V. M. Kabuzan, “Crimean Population in the Late 18th – the
Late 20th Centuries (Number, Settlement, Ethnic Composition)”, Moscow: Institute of Russian History of the Russian
Academy of Sciences, 2003, p. 112–119; V. V. Stepanov, “Problems of Ethnic Coexistence in Crimea”, in V.A. Tishkov
(ed.), “Forced Migrants: Integration and Return”, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, 1997, p. 117–144; V. V. Stepanov, “Crimea and Crimean Tatars: Historical Demography and Modern Ethno-
Political Situation”, in S. Ya. Kozlov, L. V. Chizhova (eds.), “Turkic Peoples of Crimea: Karaites. Crimean Tatars.
Krymchaks”, Moscow: Nauka, 2003. pp. 330–357.
44 Professor Paul Magocsi in his Expert Report (Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para 32) provides
absolutely inaccurate information that allegedly “the descendants of Crimean Tatars who were part of this first exile (ilk
sürgün) number by some estimates as many as five million in present-day Turkey”, i.e. in the 19th century. First, ethnicity
is not recorded in Turkish censuses. Second, to increase the population to this bogus number by natural reproduction, it
would have required biologically implausible childbirth figures (as if all women of fertile age in that group gave birth to
one child, with each women repeating this process every year of her fertility), and death rate would have become
unrealistically low (with no child mortality at all) and, besides, the relevant population would have had to increase by one
fourth year after year.
45 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), paras. 94-95.
Annex 21
22
with the Crimean Khanate placed under the protection of the Russian Empire and then becoming its
part when on 8 April 1783 Catherine the Great issued a manifesto “On the Accession of the Crimean
Peninsula, the Taman Island and the Whole Kuban Region to the Russian Empire”, thereby putting a
historical end to the territorial claims of the Ottoman Porte not only in Crimea but in Northern
Caucasus as well. The manifesto specifically sets out “to treat Crimean Tatars equally with our natural
subjects, to protect and defend their individuality, property, temples, and natural faith, with all its
lawful religious rites being freely and inviolably performed; and finally to let each of them enjoy all
benefits and advantages which are enjoyed in Russia”. In June 1783, at the summit of Mt. Ak-Kaya
near Karasubazar, the Crimean gentility and representatives of all strata of the Crimean population
took an oath of allegiance to Russia in the presence of G.A. Potemkin. In December 1783, the Taurida
Regional Government was formed, with almost all influential representatives of the Crimean Tatar
gentility forming its part alongside with Russian public officials. Later, Catherine the Great adopted
a decree of 22 February 1784 under which the upper class of Crimea – Beys and Mirzas – was granted
all rights and benefits of the Russian nobility without sacrificing their land property. The oldest
Crimean educational Muslim institution – Zincirli Madrasa (near Bakhchisaray) – built back in 1500
continued operating until the early 20th century.46 Since 1864, the Russian Empire had zemstvo
institutions [i.e. local government] in governorates and uyezds – zemstvo assemblies and boards47 –
for elective zemstvo representation of all classes and independent business activities. The Taurida
Governorate’s zemstvo assembly had delegates representing Crimean Tatars.48
55. Cultural and religious diversity still existed in Crimea under Russian imperial rule, and all
ethnic population groups, even those small in number, continued living on the peninsula to this date,
including Karaites, Krymchaks, Gypsies, Greeks, Armenians, and others.
56. It should be kept in mind that, in the post-Soviet period until 2014, Ukraine took no decisive
legal steps to protect the rights of Crimean Tatars, which follows not only from governance-related
measures but also from the direction of Ukrainian law. It is only after Crimea held the referendum
and decided to become part of the Russian Federation, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted its
resolution “On the Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Guaranteeing the Rights of the
Crimean Tatar People in the State of Ukraine”.49
57. Furthermore, after the lapse of 140 years, the 1926 all-Union census – the scrupulousness and
thoroughness of which is recognised by specialists up to this day50 – showed that ethnic and linguistic
diversity was preserved in Crimea, and that diversity remained one of the largest ones in the European
part of the USSR. Besides, 179.1 thousand Crimean Tatars comprised 25% of the peninsula’s
population.
46 A.V. Yurasov (ed.), “History of Crimea: in two volumes”, Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, Moscow: Kuchkovo pole, 2019, Vol. 1 (Annex 1288), p. 452.
47 “Regulation on Zemstvo Institutions of Governorates and Uyezds in the Russian Empire”, 1 January 1864.
48 V. V. Fedunov, A.V. Staritsyn, “Organisational and Legal Activities of the Taurida Governorate’s Zemstvo in 1887–
1908”, Topical Issues of Russian Law, 2017, No. 10. (Annex 1289), p. 12.
49 See Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukraine No. 1140-VII “On the Statement of the Verkhovna Rada of
Ukraine on Guaranteeing the Rights of the Crimean Tatar People in the State of Ukraine”, 20 March 2014 (Annex 793).
50 See e.g. Chapter 3 “The 1926 Census and the Conceptual Conquest of Lands and Peoples” in F. Hirsch, “Empire of
nations: ethnographic knowledge and the making of the Soviet Union”, Cornell University Press, 2005.
Annex 21
23
58. Professor Magocsi also maintains that “after 1783 […] [a]lmost immediately the new regime
expelled the peninsula’s Greeks and Armenians”.51 In fact, this resettlement – as well as the
resettlement of Christians – took place in 1778, i.e. before Crimea’s accession, and people were
resettling into the Russian Empire. Prior to the resettlement, representatives of the resettled peoples
repeatedly visited the places of planned immigration in order to choose the best locations on the coast
of the Sea of Azov (modern Mariupol and others – Greeks), in the lowers reaches of the Don River
(modern Rostov-on-Don – Armenians). In total, 31.4 thousand people were resettled, including 18.4
thousand Greeks, 12.6 thousand Armenians, 0.2 thousand Georgians, 0.2 thousand Wallachs. Some
of them returned to the homeland after the resettlement.52
59. During those years the tsarist administration relocated Crimean Greeks and Armenians from
the south coastal territories (modern suburbs of Yalta, Alushta, and Sevastopol) to the territory of
New Russia – Priazovye. The first groups of Russian settlers numbered several hundred people. Most
people came there on the order of the tsarist administration (peasants from the Ryazan Governorate,
Russian refugees from Ottoman Moldova, resettlers from Poland, retired soldiers, peasants from
Central Russia and Volgian Russia, and so on). Local groups of the Russian country population had
already emerged by the early 19th century. When the Crimean War of 1854–1856 took place, a
considerable part of Russian peasants had two or three generations that had lived in Crimea. There
were over a hundred Russian rural communities on the peninsula at that time, which included about
15 thousand people (some 7% of the country population).
60. After the abolition of serfdom in the Russian Empire in 1861, yet another wave of resettlers –
Russian peasants in large part – rushed into Crimea. Fast-growing rural communities were ethnically
mixed – Russian-Ukrainian ones – but the main ethno-cultural layer was Russian: resettlers would
come from Little Russia (Poltava, Chernigov, Yekaterinoslav Governorates), Novorossiya – New
Russia and Central Russia (Kursk and Orlov Governorates). As at 1886, there were 144 thousand
Russian-Ukrainian inhabitants in Crimea – more detailed statistics is not available – which comprised
40% of the peninsula’s entire population. According to the first census of 1897,53 there were 183
thousand Russians (33.4% of the entire population) and 65.5 thousand Malorossian (Ukrainian)
population in Crimea. The Russian population began to spread across the Crimean Peninsula since
the 1890s. Around a third of migrants – over 70 thousand people judging by the 1897 census – were
natives. Half of them were new urban settlers, meaning that urbanisation began in the local Russian
population at that time. A numerous and demographically consistent Russian population lived in
51 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 95.
52 M. A. Aradzhioni, “Greeks of Crimea: on the history of community formation in the later middle ages – modern times”
in “Materials on Archaeology, History, and Ethnography of Tavria: Collection of Research Papers”, Simferopol, 2007,
Issue XIII (Annex 1290), pp. 648-649; See also Ya. E.Vodarsky, O. I. Eliseeva, V. M. Kabuzan, “Crimean Population in
the Late 18th – the Late 20th Centuries (Number, Settlement, Ethnic Composition)”, Moscow: Institute of Russian History
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2003, p. 86; M. A. Aradzhioni, “Greeks of Crimea and Priazovye: History of Study
and Historiography of Ethnic History and Culture (the 1680s – the 1990s)”, Simferopol State University, Simferopol:
Amena, 1999.
53 Professor Paul Magocsi’s contention that “[t]he entire period of imperial Russian rule in Crimea from 1783 to 1917
was characterized by the absolute and relative decline in the number of Crimean Tatars” (Expert report of Mr Magocsi
(Annex 21 to UM), para. 30) is not supported by any evidence and should be treated with caution bearing in mind that
before state censuses of the 20th century the number of Crimean Tatars – and that of all other ethnic population groups –
was not directly and statistically counted in the Russian Empire, and there was no such accounting during the first Russian
Imperial Census of 1897 census either, meaning that all statistical data before the 20th century are estimated or raw.
Annex 21
24
Crimea by the early 20th century. In 1917, there were more Russians than Tatars even in country
areas.
61. Prominent specialists in historical demography believe that there were not many Ukrainians
in Crimea at that time, and their proportion reached 8.6% in 1917, and the specialists presume that
“the Ukrainian ethnic territory [considerable – in the realm of the peninsula – areas of settlement
where this group is prevalent in numbers] in Crimea was not formed”.54
62. According to the 1926 census, there were 301 thousand Russians (42% of the entire
population) in Crimea, and they comprised more than half of the peninsula’s population in the next
years. The 1926 census revealed that 54% of 301 thousand Russians on the peninsula were natives,
and if we also take into account those Russians who had lived in Crimea for 20–30 years and more
by the time of the census, then the proportion of long-term residents amounted to 62%.55 Natives of
Crimea also comprised a large part of the Ukrainian population – about a half – but the absolute
number of Ukrainians on the peninsula was comparatively low (77 thousand people). With that said,
Russians became not only the largest ethnic group on the peninsula, but even long-term resident
Russians numerically exceeded any other group, including Crimean Tatars (179 thousand people).
Interestingly, not all Tatars were locals at that time – about 15% of them were born outside Crimea.56
63. In the 1930s, the Russian population of Crimea was a half-million ethnic group. It increased
in that period mostly because of birth rate, and many country and urban groups of Russians had 4–5
generations that had lived on Crimean soil. According to the 1939 census, there were 559 thousand
Russian (50% of the entire population) in Crimea. By that time they constituted an ethnic majority in
all regions of Crimea, except for the south coast where Tatars were prevalent, and Evpatoria where
Ukrainians mostly lived.
64. Catastrophic changes were taking place in Crimea during the Great Patriotic War. A
tremendous number of people were slaughtered by Nazi Germany and taken to concentration camps.
German death squads were exterminating Jews, Russians, Ukrainians, Gypsies, Krymchaks, and the
entire civilian population in general. Some people were returned in post-war years, but Crimea
replenished its demographic resources owing to Russian and – in part – Ukrainian oblasts [i.e.
regions].
65. The population composition was affected by Stalin’s deportations when 50 thousand
Germans, Austrians, Romanians, Hungarians, Italians, who had lived there in pre-war days, were
deported during the war. Practically all Crimean Tatars (more than 200 thousand people in total,
thousands of Armenians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Turks, Kurds, Persians, Gypsies were deported). In
total, more than 300 thousand inhabitants were deported from Crimea during the war. There was yet
another large-scale inflow of Russians and then Ukrainians into Crimea since the deportation and
until the early 1950s, and all these resettlements were strictly organised by the government. Starting
54 Ya. E.Vodarsky, O. I. Eliseeva, V. M. Kabuzan, “Crimean Population in the Late 18th – the Late 20th Centuries
(Number, Settlement, Ethnic Composition)”, Moscow: Institute of Russian History of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
2003 (Annex 1291), p. 111.
55 Central Statistical Administration of the USSR, “All-Union Census of 17 December 1926. Summary. Issue IV.
Nationality and Native Language of the Population of the USSR”, Moscow, 1928 (Annex 436), p. 71; S.Ya. Kozlov, L.V.
Chizhova, “Turkic Peoples of Crimea: Karaites. Crimean Tatars. Krymchaks”, Moscow: Nauka, 2003 (Annex 1170), p.
333.
56 S.Ya. Kozlov, L.V. Chizhova, “Turkic Peoples of Crimea: Karaites. Crimean Tatars. Krymchaks”, Moscow: Nauka,
2003 (Annex 1170), p. 333.
Annex 21
25
from the second half of the 1950s, when Crimea as an administrative division had already been
transferred to Ukraine, Ukrainian natives began settling in Crimean territories.
66. The transfer of Crimea to Ukraine in 1954 had a direct impact upon the ethnic composition of
the population. Ukrainisation of the peninsula resulted in a slight decrease (to 67%) of the proportion
of Russians in the Crimean population because the number of Ukrainians increased. However, in the
following years, when the positive migration balance was reduced57 due to a series of propiska [i.e.
residence registration] restrictions, the proportion of Russians again slightly increased (to 69%).
Migrants continued coming from Russia, and the assimilation of the newly arrived Ukrainian
population with the Crimean Russian environment also played its significant role. In the 1980s, the
Russian population mostly grew because of natural population growth. Meanwhile, many Russians
(at least 30 thousand per year) came from outside the peninsula (35% of all immigrants). Russians
usually came to Crimea from eastern oblasts of Ukraine58 and central oblasts of Russia. Moreover,
lots of servicemen of Russian origin were redeployed from the Far East and the European North to
Crimea. According to the last Soviet census of 1989, the proportion of Russians in Crimea slightly
decreased (to 67%) because of demographic aging on the peninsula and the repatriation of Crimean
Tatars that began in those years.59 The proportion of Ukrainians in the post-Soviet Crimea was 26%,
that of Crimean Tatars and Tatars – 2%.60
67. In the USSR, after Crimean Tatars were rehabilitated, their number was accounted for in
Soviet censuses since 1970. The 1970 census recorded a ten-fold increase in numbers of “Tatars” in
Crimea (0.4 thousand people in 195961 and 4.4 thousand people in 1970), with “Crimean Tatars” (2.1
thousand people) “appearing” en masse in official census results. Both figures were indicative of a
migration inflow of specifically Crimean Tatars onto the peninsula. As there was yet no government
approval of that large-scale return at that time, most returnees identified themselves as “Tatars” rather
57 Positive migration balance means when the number of people who arrive to a place to settle there permanently exceeds
the number of people who leave the region. In this case, this implies that this excess was reduced.
58 In the USSR, official statistics annually recorded the number of migrants (people who resettle on a permanent basis
between administrative territories within a country) by enthnicity and place of previous residence. Here we provide data
from a person who made these calculations using hand-written source materials of the Department of Statistics of the
Crimean Region for 1970–1990.
59 S.Ya. Kozlov, L.V. Chizhova, “Turkic Peoples of Crimea: Karaites. Crimean Tatars. Krymchaks”, Moscow: Nauka,
2003 (Annex 1170), pp. 336-337.
60 See Addendum to Chapter 2, Table 7.
61 Professor Paul Magocsi (Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 34) incorrectly states that when “the
exiled Crimean Tatars (151,000 out of 195,000) were resettled in Soviet Uzbekistan […] their ethnonym, Crimean Tatar,
was abolished as a specific nationality category”. In practice, this name was statistically recorded back in the 1959 All-
Union census. To this end, there was a special code “73 – Crimean Tatars and (Crimean) Nogais” to count responses from
the population. (See, Central Statistical Directorate under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Directorate for the All-
Union Population Census of 1959, Vocabularies of Nationalities and Languages to Encode Responses to Questions 7 and
8 of the Census Questionnaire (on nationality and native language), State Statistical Publishing House, Moscow, 1959
(Annex 1047), p. 2). However when the results of that census were officially released, Crimean Tatars were not recorded
on their own but with other Tatars. During the 1970 all-Union census, there was a special code “81 – Crimean Tatars” to
ensure that responses from the population could be automatically counted, and following the 1970 census, the number of
Crimean Tatars in the USSR was revealed to be 147.6 thousand people (besides, it was evident that – given the
geographical spread – not all Crimean Tatars identified themselves as “Crimean” during the census, with someone opting
for simply Tatars instead) (See, Central Statistical Directorate under the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Directorate
for the All-Union Population Census, Vocabularies of Nationalities and Languages to Encode Responses to Questions 7
and 8 of the Census Questionnaire (on nationality, native and other language of the peoples of the USSR), Statistika
Publishing House, Moscow, 1969 (Annex 1048), p. 6). In the following years, data concerning the number of Crimean
Tatars after the 1979 and 1989 all-Union censuses were counted and released.
Annex 21
26
than “Crimean Tatars”, all the more so as their passports had an entry that they were “Tatars”. There
was a considerable increase in both ethnicities during the next census of 1979 – the number of
“Tatars” doubled (9.7 thousand people) and the number of “Crimean Tatars” increased to 5.4
thousand people. However the ban on their return was basically upheld. Permission to return to
Crimea was granted only during perestroika, and for the first time the 1989 Soviet census recorded a
significant numerical superiority of “Crimean Tatars” over “Tatars” in Crimea. The number of
“Crimean Tatars” in Crimea increased sevenfold, while that of “Tatars” barely changed at all.
68. Professor Paul Magocsi asserts62 that “[a]t the establishment of independent Ukraine in late
1991 a large part of Crimea’s population consisted of people who had grown up or moved to the
peninsula when it was part of the Soviet Union”. This opinion is surprising since in 1991 not “a large
part” but each and every Crimean was a citizen of the USSR and had lived there (several hundreds of
foreign students do not need to be counted in this regard).
69. A referendum on the preservation of the whole state was held in March 1991 in the USSR,
including Ukraine and Crimea. The question was as follows: “Do you consider it necessary to
preserve the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as a renovated federation of equal sovereign
republics in which the human rights and freedoms of any nationality [ethnicity] will be fully
guaranteed?” However the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic and personally its Chairman Leonid Kravchuk, who went on to become the President of
Ukraine, additionally introduced the second question: “Do you agree that Ukraine should be part of
the Union of Soviet Sovereign States on the basis of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of
Ukraine?”.63 The population thought at that time that if one replied to the first question in the
affirmative, it would be logical to answer the second one in the affirmative as well. There were few
people who understood that those were two mutually exclusive questions. Thus, 70.2% of Ukrainian
voters answered “yes” to the first question about the preservation of the USSR, and 80.2% of voters
answered “yes” to the second question about Ukraine’s inclusion into the Union of Soviet Sovereign
States, meaning that only 10% expressly voted for sovereign Ukraine in that referendum. There was
no separate vote counting in Crimea, or it was not made public. But it is likely that inhabitants of the
Crimean Oblast, which was administratively subordinate to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic,
en masse favoured the preservation of the USSR.
70. Furthermore, as is the case with most citizens of the USSR – 77.9% of them voted to preserve
the country in the referendum – Crimeans believed at that time that a division of the country into
several parts, if any, would not be radical, and they thought that the fundamental properties of the
former Union would be preserved, namely the common border, the common monetary unit, the
common economic and social life, the common transport network, mutual accessibility, and others.
Very few people were aware that the division would be radical.
71. To have an idea about Crimea, it is necessary to know that under Soviet rule Crimea and its
inhabitants – even after being “transferred” to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 195464 – did
62 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 83.
63 Resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic “On the Content of the
Voting Paper Submitted by the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic to the Referendum of 17
March 1991”, 22 February 1991, available in Russian at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/759-12#Text.
64 Law of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic “On the Transfer of the Crimean Oblast from the Russian Soviet
Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic”, 26 April 1954, available in Russian at:
http://docs.cntd.ru/document/901982301.
Annex 21
27
not lose a direct and constant contact with the entire country (there was a famous motto across the
country – Crimea is an all-Union health resort) and, most notably, an active connection was still
maintained with the Russian Federation. The Crimean population was not subjected to any ideological
brainwashing aimed at “pro-Russian orientation”, and no ideas of “the Russian World” (there was no
such term at the time) were fostered. The Russian-language and Russian-culture environment was
just (and still is) an everyday living environment of the Crimean population.
72. Given the 2014 census results in Crimea, it is clear that the repatriation process was completed
on the whole. Besides, statistical data concerning the arrival of Crimean Tatars to the peninsula over
the previous years (current passport registration data) indicate that the number of Crimean Tatars
arriving to the peninsula started to decrease back in 1992. Nevertheless, representatives of the Mejlis
of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia) continued to reassure the global community that the
repatriation process was far from over.65 These statements were hard to verify because there are no
reliable statistical data in Uzbekistan – the only post-Soviet state where no census was held after the
dissolution of the USSR, and the number of Crimean Tatars living there was unknown. It was,
therefore, not possible to check how many Crimean Tatars could potentially resettle in Crimea (or
find out how many of them actually desired to resettle). In the 1990s, the International Organization
for Migration instructed several scholars to conduct research which revealed that – given various data,
including official information – the number of Crimean Tatars who remained in Uzbekistan by 1996
ranged between 78 thousand and 118 thousand people.66 Additionally, some 40% of them were born
in Crimea and were over 55 years old. Considering the fact that more than 40 thousand Crimean
Tatars relocated from Uzbekistan to Crimea (and approximately 3 thousand people from other CIS
countries) in 1996–2014,67 it may be argued that it is predominantly elderly Crimean Tatars who
remained in Uzbekistan, and their number must be dwindling mostly due to a natural population
decrease, which seems to be 2–2.5% per year over the last 15 years. Consequently, the average
number of Crimean Tatars who remained in Uzbekistan could not have exceeded 30–35 thousand
people by early 2015. But even in this case it does not seem possible to treat them all automatically
as potential repatriates. Following the results of the above-mentioned studies, only 70–75% of
Crimean Tatars who remained in Uzbekistan at that time planned to return to Crimea in the future.
Most of them are already in Crimea over the decades that have elapsed since that time. Therefore, the
part of Crimean Tatars that remain outside Crimea will not return to their ancestral homeland because
of old age, assimilation, and financial reasons. As concerns the rest of Russia, the 2010 census showed
that there were 3 thousand Crimean Tatars at most (Krasnodar Krai, Moscow). Their number is even
65 “An address to the Presidium of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, made on 11 February 1995 in Tashkent at a
meeting of delegates of the Qurultay of the Central Asian Region, reads: “…More than half of the Crimean Tatar people
remains in areas they were deported to” (See S. M. Chervonnaya, “Crimean Tatar National Movement (1994–1996)”,
Research on Applied and Emergency Ethnology, 1997, No. 101, pp. 8, 9). “Izet Khairov, a representative of the Mejlis of
the Crimean Tatar People in Tashkent, describes the position of Crimean Tatars who remained outside Crimea in the
following manner: “There are now around 200 thousand Crimean Tatars in Central Asia, of whom 140–160 [thousand]
live in Uzbekistan” (See I. Khairov. “We Should Continue to Fight to Return”, Avdet, 1996, No. 2/141, p. 4).
66 See A. Zholdasov, “Structure and Migration Intensions of Crimean Tatars in Uzbekistan”, Kiev, 1997; I. M.
Pribytkova, “Emigration Potential of the Previously Deported Crimean Tatars in the Republic of Uzbekistan”, Kiev, 1998
cit. on: V.A. Tishkov, A.N. Manuilov, V.V. Stepanov, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in the Crimean
Federal District. Expert Report for the First Half of 2015”, Moscow–Simferopol: Antikva LLC, 2015 (Annex 1194), p.
25.
67 V.A. Tishkov, A.N. Manuilov, V.V. Stepanov, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in the Crimean Federal
District. Expert Report for the First Half of 2015”, Moscow–Simferopol: Antikva LLC, 2015 (Annex 1194), p. 24.
Annex 21
28
smaller in other post-Soviet countries. 5–7 thousand Crimean Tatars still live in Ukraine, mainly in
the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. In view of this, the migration potential of Crimean Tatars is
lower by ten folds than assumed68. The Crimean repatriation process has been under way over the
previous years, but its rate was very low – a maximum of one thousand people relocated there every
year in 2010 - 2013.
73. Professor Paul Magocsi unreasonably suggests69 that in 2013 “[…] the number of Crimean
Tatars on the eve of the Russian occupation of Crimea at upwards of 300,000” and that “under
Ukrainian rule, the number of Tatars in Crimea at the outset of the twenty-first century was greater
than at any time in history”. In doing so the author seems to imply that the number of Crimean Tatars
has decreased in the modern Russian Crimea.
74. Actually, the situation is quite the opposite. Crimean Tatars are a population group that in the
late Soviet period and later on during their return to Crimea took active efforts – individual and
collective – to settle in the Crimean society as strongly and effectively as possible. As a rule, Crimean
Tatars employed various means to make their presence and involvement known, e.g. in public affairs,
governance, local economy, science, culture, and so on. The Crimean Tatar environment has not
pursued or promoted self-isolation and a sheltered life over the last decades. There were isolated calls
for a boycott in the first days of the 2014 Russian state census but even those few people who had
called for that changed the course and campaigned for active participation in the census. In doing so
Crimean Tatars wished to show that they were Crimean residents enjoying full rights. Post-census
research revealed that Crimean Tatars had been even more active in the census than other population
groups. Accordingly, there is no reason to distrust the results of the 2014 Russian census in Crimea.
The census revealed that Crimean Tatars – as in the previous two decades – are the third-largest
population group in Crimea, and this population group has increased in number in comparison with
official data for when Crimea was under the jurisdiction of Ukraine.
75. In terms of specific population figures, it is necessary to take into account how counting is
performed during censuses. For a long time, the 2001 All-Ukrainian census was the only post-Soviet
official source about Crimean Tatars, and it placed Crimean Tatars in Crimea at 245.3 thousand
people. However all just “Tatars” who were born in Uzbekistan were categorised as “Crimean”.
76. The 2014 Russian census provided for a direct self-identification of people, meaning that only
people who identified themselves as “Crimean Tatars” were counted as such (plus 1.5 thousand
people who identified themselves as just “Tatars” but answered that Crimean Tatar was their native
language). This is exactly how the figure of 232.3 thousand people was obtained in 2014,70 which is
somewhat lower than the Ukrainian census figure. In truth, the number of Crimean Tatars in Crimea
increased.71 The point is that the 2014 Russian census counted an additional 45 thousand of “just”
68 “According to the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, 249.6 thousand Crimean Tatars and
3.4 thousand Greeks, Bulgarians, Armenians, and Germans, who were deported alongside with the Crimean Tatars, lived
in Crimea as at 1 January 1998. According to the State Committee for Nationalities and Migration of Ukraine, between
100 and 200 thousand Crimean Tatars are going to return to Crimea in the years to come. Crimean Tatars themselves rate
their emigration potential in Uzbekistan higher and mention 250 thousand repatriates” (See I. M. Pribytkova. “Emigration
Potential of Crimean Tatars”, Sociological Studies, 1999, No. 10, p. 95).
69 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 39.
70 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), p. 108.
71 For the adjusted number of Crimean Tatars here and elsewhere, see V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov,
“Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious
Annex 21
29
Tatars,72 including those who did not specify whether they were “Crimean” or “non-Crimean”. As
far as the previous Ukrainian census is concerned, the number of “just” Tatars was rather low – 13.6
thousand people. It appeared that their number seemed to have more than tripled by the time Crimea
became part of Russia. But in between the two censuses (Ukrainian and Russian), there was no mass
inflow of any Tatars into the peninsula – save for Crimean ones – and no population group could have
increased several-fold by natural growth. In this case there is no mystery since people who answered
“Tatar” during the census were Crimean Tatars.
77. The truth is that during the Ukrainian census the endonym “Crimean Tatars” was fraught with
political and economic expectations, and people may have underscored their “Crimean” identification
in the hope of social benefits, assistance from international organisations, and so forth. As time went
by, political topicality associated with ethnic identity and social expectations withered, Crimean
Tatars increasingly felt like part of the peninsula’s population, numerous interpersonal, family, and
professional ties were established, and the everyday name “Tatars” became widespread. For this
reason many Crimean Tatars started calling themselves like this in everyday life.73 Some Crimean
Tatars were therefore simply called “Tatars” in the latest census of 2014. This is clearly evident if we
take specific examples of village residents where statistics says that “just” Tatars “appeared”. For
instance, Crimean Tatars that settled in the village of Andrusovo (outside Simferopol) after their
repatriation constitute – if we take just the formal name – the lesser part of the population, with “just”
Tatars – the greater one. In effect, it is Crimean Tatars who live in this village. Statistics presents the
opposite situation in another large village of Strogonovka: there are 400 “just” Tatars per 1.5 thousand
Crimean Tatars, though it is Crimean Tatars who settled in that village after their repatriation. There
is a similar situation in the village of Chistenkoe and others. With that said, to understand the way
things are in Crimea, it is necessary to count not only the separate number of Crimean Tatars and
Tatars but their aggregate number as well. The aggregate number of Crimean Tatars and Tatars in
Crimea is 277.3 thousand people, and this figure is closer to the actual assessment of the population
of Crimean Tatars.
78. Further, 85 thousand Crimeans taking part in the census did not have their nationality recorded
since the census rules state that if a person is not at home at the time a census is taken, only his or her
sex and age are recorded, while nationality is not. At least 10% of such unrecorded people are
Crimean Tatars since the portion of Crimean Tatars and Tatars in Crimea was 12.6%). Accordingly,
if we add these people, the aggregate number of Crimean Tatars and Tatars in the Russian Crimea is
as high as 288.3 thousand people, an increase of 28.2 thousand people as compared with the 2001
Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex
1204), pp. 39–40.
72 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), p. 108.
73 This is confirmed by a series of studies conducted by the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian
Academy of Sciences in Crimea in 2013–2020, according to which persons who identify themselves as “Tatars” often
specify that Crimean Tatar is their native language (for instance, see V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov,
“Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious
Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex
1204), p. 39; V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Civic Identity and Inter-ethnic Relations in Crimea. Field
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: Letny Sad, 2016 (Annex 1200)).
Annex 21
30
Ukrainian census, in which Crimean Tatars and Tatars accounted for 258.9 thousand people and if
adjusted for those whose nationality was not recorded – 260.1 thousand people).
Annex 21
31
ADDENDUM 2
Table 1. Native Languages of the Population of the Taurida Governorate According to the First
General Census of 1897 (the Taurida Governorate was comprised of not only uyezds [i.e. territorial
units] in Crimea, but also of mainland uyezds where 63% of the population lived)
Native languages
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
the
population, %
Entire population 1,447,790 100.00
including native languages:
Little Russian 611,121 42.2
Great Russian 404,463 27.9
Tatar 196,854 13.6
German 78,305 5.4
Jewish 55,418 3.8
Bulgarian 41,260 2.8
Greek 18,048 1.2
Polish 10,112 0.7
Belarusian 9,726 0.7
Armenian 8,938 0.6
Moldavian and Romanian 2,259 0.2
Estonian 2,210 0.2
Turkish 2,197 0.2
Czech and Slovakian 1,962 0.1
Gypsy 1,433 0.1
Italian 1,121 0.1
French 464 0.03
Mordovan 375 0.03
Latvian 290 0.02
Georgian 260 0.02
Serbian, Croatian, Slovenian 237 0.02
Lithuanian 213 0.01
English 147 0.01
Persian 74 0.01
Swedish 38 0.003
Finnish 36 0.002
Hungarian 33 0.002
Circassian 29 0.002
Arabic 21 0.001
Votyak 15 0.001
Albanian 11 0.001
Ossetian 11 0.001
Dutch 8 0.001
Norwegian and Danish 7 0.000
Aysor 6 0.000
Zhematian 5 0.000
Cheremiss 5 0.000
Kyrgyz–Kaysat 5 0.000
Chuvash 2 0.000
other languages 71 0.005
Annex 21
32
Table 2. Population of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic by Nationality According
to the 1926 All-Union Census
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
the
population, %
Entire population 706,763 100.0
Russians 301,398 42.6
Tatars 179,094 25.3
Ukrainians 77,405 11.0
Germans 43,631 6.2
Jews 39,921 5.6
Greeks 16,036 2.3
Bulgarians 11,377 1.6
Armenians 10,713 1.5
Crimean Jews 6,000 0.8
Poles 4,514 0.6
Karaites 4,213 0.6
Belarusians 3,842 0.5
Aesti 2,084 0.3
Czechs and Slovaks 1,419 0.2
Latvians 788 0.1
Italians 677 0.1
Gypsies 649 0.1
Moldavians 556 0.1
Lithuanians 397 0.1
Dutch 349 0.05
Georgians 293 0.04
Romanians 222 0.03
Ottoman Turks 209 0.03
Magyars 89 0.01
Mari 80 0.01
French 78 0.01
Serbians 74 0.01
Mordvins 53 0.01
Aysors 50 0.01
Chuvash 47 0.01
Finns 43 0.01
Lezhgians 37 0.01
Persians 29 0.004
Swedes 27 0.004
Ossetians 27 0.004
Circassians 25 0.004
Votyaks 22 0.003
Zyrians 15 0.002
Kurds 15 0.002
Koreans 13 0.002
Kyrgyz 13 0.002
English 11 0.002
Karelians 9 0.001
Chinese 9 0.001
Chechens 8 0.001
Bashkirs 7 0.001
Kabardians 6 0.001
Annex 21
33
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
the
population, %
Albanians 5 0.001
Georgian Jews 5 0.001
Kalmyks 5 0.001
Latgalls 4 0.001
Mingrelians 4 0.001
Turkmen 4 0.001
Avars 3 0.0004
Uzbeks 3 0.0004
Nagaybaks 2 0.0003
Nogais 2 0.0003
Adzhars 2 0.0003
Leningrad Finns 1 0.0001
Vepsians 1 0.0001
Permiaks 1 0.0001
Mongols 1 0.0001
Yakuts 1 0.0001
Kamchadals 1 0.0001
Japanese 1 0.0001
Abkhazians 1 0.0001
Arabs 1 0.0001
Kumyks 1 0.0001
Balkars 1 0.0001
Turks 1 0.0001
Khakas 1 0.0001
others 137 0.02
Table 3. Population of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic by Nationality According
to the 1939 All-Union Census
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Entire population 1126429
of whom people who specified their nationality 1,126,085 100.0
including
Russians 558,481 49.6
Tatars 218,879 19.4
Ukrainians 154,123 13.7
Jews 65,452 5.8
Germans 51,299 4.6
Greeks 20,652 1.8
Bulgarians 15,344 1.4
Armenians 12,923 1.1
Belarusians 6,726 0.6
Poles 5,084 0.5
others 3,610 0.3
Gypsies 2,064 0.2
Estonians 1,900 0.2
Czechs 1,674 0.1
Annex 21
34
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Moldavians 1,483 0.1
Latvians 888 0.1
Mordvins 810 0.1
Italians 513 0.0
Georgians 509 0.0
Lithuanians 421 0.0
Chuvash 269 0.0
Turks 268 0.0
Spanish 205 0.0
Ossetians 178 0.0
Komi 164 0.0
Romanians 158 0.0
Kazakhs 146 0.0
Bashkirs 142 0.0
Koreans 117 0.0
Udmurts 112 0.0
Azerbaijani 109 0.0
Finns 104 0.0
Uzbeks 101 0.0
Albanians 94 0.0
Lezhgians 89 0.0
Assyrians 86 0.0
Serbians 78 0.0
Karelians 77 0.0
Laks 72 0.0
Mari 68 0.0
Turkmen 58 0.0
French 55 0.0
Adygeis 54 0.0
Kabardians 38 0.0
Latgalls 38 0.0
Buryats 36 0.0
Chinese 26 0.0
Swedes 26 0.0
Kalmyks 23 0.0
Tajiks 20 0.0
Yakuts 19 0.0
Chechens 19 0.0
Dutch 19 0.0
Slovaks 19 0.0
Iranians 18 0.0
Kyrgyz 17 0.0
English 16 0.0
Karachay 12 0.0
Khakas 12 0.0
Balkarians 11 0.0
Avars 7 0.0
Kumyks 7 0.0
Abkhazians 7 0.0
Vepsians 7 0.0
Annex 21
35
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Nogais 7 0.0
Oirots 6 0.0
Americans 5 0.0
Ingush 4 0.0
Dargins 3 0.0
Belgians 3 0.0
Koryaks 2 0.0
Shors 2 0.0
Kara-Kalpaks 1 0.0
Saami 1 0.0
Evens 1 0.0
Abazins 1 0.0
Uighurs 1 0.0
Arabs 1 0.0
Japanese 1 0.0
others 10 0.0
people who did not specify their nationality 344 0.0
Table 4. Population of the Crimean Oblast by Nationality According to the 1959 All-Union Census
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Entire population 1,201,517 100.0
of whom people who specified their nationality 1,201,509
including
Russians 858,273 71.4
Ukrainians 267,659 22.3
Jews 25,411 2.1
Belarusians 21,672 1.8
Poles 3,911 0.3
Moldavians 2,378 0.2
Armenians 1,990 0.2
Karaites 1,893 0.2
Mordvins 1,858 0.2
Tatars 1,354 0.1
Estonians 1,228 0.1
Czechs 1,216 0.1
Chuvash 1,153 0.1
Greeks 1,126 0.1
Krymchaks 963 0.1
Gypsies 959 0.1
Georgians 858 0.1
Bulgarians 660 0.1
Azerbaijani 639 0.1
Latvians 566 0.05
Germans 481 0.04
Lithuanians 470 0.04
Crimean Tatars 417 0.03
Annex 21
36
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Ossetians 364 0.03
Komi 319 0.03
Uzbeks 306 0.03
Kyrgyz 251 0.02
Kazakhs 250 0.02
Mari 242 0.02
Udmurts 213 0.02
Bashkirs 196 0.02
Gagauz 186 0.02
other nationalities 2,047 0.2
people who did not specify their nationality 8
Table 5. Population of the Crimean Oblast by Nationality According to the 1970 All-Union Census
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Entire population 1,813,502
of whom people who specified their nationality 1,813,354 100.0
including
Russians 1,220,484 67.3
Ukrainians 480,733 26.5
Belarusians 39,739 2.2
Jews 24,653 1.4
Poles 6,038 0.3
Tatars 4,415 0.2
Moldavians 3,456 0.2
Mordvins 3,179 0.2
Armenians 3,091 0.2
Chuvash 2,453 0.1
Crimean Tatars 2,064 0.1
Karaites 1,553 0.1
Greeks 1,481 0.1
Bulgarians 1,398 0.1
Gypsies 1,294 0.1
Estonians 1,291 0.1
Czechs 1,165 0.1
Georgians 1,112 0.1
Udmurts 986 0.1
Krymchaks 949 0.1
Mari 918 0.1
Azerbaijani 889 0.05
Latvians 884 0.05
Lithuanians 882 0.05
Germans 839 0.05
Koreans 800 0.04
Uzbeks 763 0.04
Kazakhs 659 0.04
Ossetians 576 0.03
Annex 21
37
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Bashkirs 510 0.03
Komi 441 0.02
Romanians 365 0.02
Hungarians 239 0.01
Gagauz 236 0.01
Karelians 221 0.01
Komi-Permyaks 198 0.01
Lezhgians 178 0.01
Tajiks 173 0.01
Spanish 154 0.01
Finns 131 0.01
Italians 104 0.01
Turkmen 88 0.005
Assyrians 83 0.005
Yakuts 78 0.004
Tats 75 0.004
Albanians 75 0.004
Kyrgyz 71 0.004
Uighurs 70 0.004
Avars 69 0.004
Buryats 62 0.003
Kabardians 60 0.003
Kalmyks 60 0.003
Abkhazians 57 0.003
Chechens 55 0.003
Laks 54 0.003
Adygeis 52 0.003
Arabs 46 0.003
Slovaks 45 0.002
Circassians 36 0.002
Khakas 34 0.002
Chinese 34 0.002
Kumyks 33 0.002
Karachay 33 0.002
Dargins 28 0.002
French 28 0.002
Altaians 24 0.001
Turks 21 0.001
Serbians 20 0.001
Ingush 18 0.001
Abazins 18 0.001
Balkarians 17 0.001
Nenets 13 0.001
Nogais 11 0.001
Tabasarans 11 0.001
Khanty 10 0.001
Shors 10 0.001
Peoples of India and Pakistan 10 0.001
Persians 10 0.001
Tuvinians 8 0.0004
Annex 21
38
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Mountain Jews 8 0.0004
Austrians 8 0.0004
Afghans 8 0.0004
Kara-Kalpaks 7 0.0004
Kurds 7 0.0004
Nanaians 6 0.0003
Vepsians 6 0.0003
English 6 0.0003
Eskimos 6 0.0003
Chukchi 5 0.0003
Vietnamese 5 0.0003
Dungans 5 0.0003
Koryaks 4 0.0002
Evenkis 4 0.0002
Dolgans 3 0.0002
Mansi 3 0.0002
Itelmes 3 0.0002
Nganasans 3 0.0002
Saami 3 0.0002
Evens 3 0.0002
Central Asian Jews 3 0.0002
Aleutians 3 0.0002
Khalkha-Mongols 3 0.0002
Croatians 3 0.0002
Japanese 3 0.0002
Tsakhurs 2 0.0001
Negidals 2 0.0001
Udegei 2 0.0001
Rutuls 1 0.0001
Nivkhs 1 0.0001
Orochis 1 0.0001
Selkups 1 0.0001
Ulchis 1 0.0001
Yukagirs 1 0.0001
Georgian Jews 1 0.0001
Izhorians 1 0.0001
Dutch 1 0.0001
People who did not specify their nationality 148
Table 6. Population of the Crimean Oblast by Nationality According to the 1979 All-Union Census
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Entire population 2,135,916 х
of whom people who specified their nationality 2,135,855 100.0
including
Russians 1,460,980 68.4
Ukrainians 547,336 25.6
Annex 21
39
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Belarusians 43,214 2.0
Jews 21,531 1.0
Tatars 9,656 0.5
Poles 6,092 0.3
Crimean Tatars 5,422 0.3
Moldavians 4,445 0.2
Mordvins 3,970 0.2
Chuvash 3,524 0.2
Armenians 3,430 0.2
Greeks 1,897 0.1
Germans 1,587 0.1
Bulgarians 1,572 0.1
Koreans 1,535 0.1
Gypsies 1,491 0.1
Mari 1,473 0.1
Udmurts 1,379 0.1
Azerbaijani 1,309 0.1
Georgians 1,237 0.1
Karaites 1,151 0.1
Krymchaks 1,048 0.05
Estonians 1,047 0.05
Czechs 989 0.05
Lithuanians 860 0.04
Latvians 789 0.04
Bashkirs 747 0.03
Ossetians 696 0.03
Uzbeks 552 0.03
Komi-Permyaks 516 0.02
Komi 439 0.02
Romanians 363 0.02
Kazakhs 358 0.02
Gagauz 280 0.01
Karelians 250 0.01
Hungarians 249 0.01
Lezhgians 189 0.01
Arabs 166 0.01
Tajiks 157 0.01
Spanish 128 0.01
Finns 123 0.01
Avars 92 0.004
Turkmen 86 0.004
Italians 77 0.004
Assyrians 73 0.003
Buryats 72 0.003
Kyrgyz 64 0.003
Adygeis 63 0.003
Chechens 59 0.003
Abkhazians 56 0.003
Kabardians 55 0.003
Albanians 49 0.002
Annex 21
40
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Circassians 47 0.002
Yakuts 45 0.002
Laks 44 0.002
Kalmyks 37 0.002
Nogais 34 0.002
Chinese 34 0.002
Kumyks 30 0.001
Dargins 29 0.001
Tats 28 0.001
Slovaks 28 0.001
Karachay 25 0.001
Ingush 23 0.001
Khakas 21 0.001
Serbians 20 0.001
Dungans 19 0.001
Abazins 18 0.001
Cubans 18 0.001
Altaians 17 0.001
Turks 17 0.001
Persians 16 0.001
French 16 0.001
Tabasarans 15 0.001
Khanty 15 0.001
Vepsians 14 0.001
Mountain Jews 13 0.001
Uighurs 12 0.001
Afghans 11 0.001
Koryaks 10 0.0005
Nenets 10 0.0005
Shors 10 0.0005
Balkarians 9 0.0004
Peoples of India and Pakistan 9 0.0004
Kurds 8 0.0004
Mansi 5 0.0002
Kara-Kalpaks 4 0.0002
Dolgans 4 0.0002
Aleutians 4 0.0002
Saami 4 0.0002
Georgian Jews 4 0.0002
English 4 0.0002
Croatians 4 0.0002
Japanese 4 0.0002
Rutuls 3 0.0001
Evenkis 3 0.0001
Orochis 3 0.0001
Austrians 3 0.0001
Tuvinians 2 0.0001
Selkups 2 0.0001
Izhorians 2 0.0001
Vietnamese 2 0.0001
Annex 21
41
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Mongols 2 0.0001
Chukchi 1 0.00005
Itelmes 1 0.00005
Ulchis 1 0.00005
Eskimos 1 0.00005
Central Asian Jews 1 0.00005
Baluchi 1 0.00005
Dutch 1 0.00005
Other nationalities 164 0.01
People who did not specify their nationality 61
Table 7. Population of the Crimean Oblast by Nationality According to the 1989 All-Union Census
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Entire population 2,430,495 100.0
Russians 1,629,542 67.0
Ukrainians 625,919 25.8
Belarusians 50,054 2.1
Crimean Tatars 38,365 1.6
Jews 17,731 0.7
Tatars 10,762 0.4
Moldovans 6,609 0.3
Poles 6,157 0.3
Chuvash 4,621 0.2
Mordvins 4,582 0.2
Armenians 2,794 0.1
Greeks 2,684 0.1
Koreans 2,423 0.1
Azerbaijani 2,415 0.1
Germans 2,356 0.1
Bulgarians 2,186 0.1
Mari 1,906 0.1
Georgians 1,780 0.1
Gypsies 1,698 0.1
Udmurts 1,681 0.1
Bashkirs 1,139 0.05
Lithuanians 1,065 0.04
Estonians 985 0.04
Ossetians 886 0.04
Karaites 882 0.04
Uzbeks 876 0.04
Czechs 864 0.04
Latvians 759 0.03
Krymchaks 604 0.02
Komi-Permyaks 561 0.02
Komi 546 0.02
Gagauz 546 0.02
Annex 21
42
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Karelians 372 0.02
Tajiks 353 0.01
Romanians 343 0.01
Kazakhs 337 0.01
Lezghians 325 0.01
Hungarians 260 0.01
Avars 163 0.01
Finns 148 0.01
Spanish 120 0.005
Kyrgyz 118 0.005
Adygeis 114 0.005
Dargians 110 0.005
Buryats 108 0.004
Abzhazians 104 0.004
Assyrians 89 0.004
Turkmen 78 0.003
Italians 74 0.003
Kabardians 70 0.003
Chinese 62 0.003
Albanians 60 0.002
Kalmyks 55 0.002
Circassians 55 0.002
Cubans 52 0.002
Nogais 48 0.002
Yakuts 48 0.002
Evens 44 0.002
Arabs 44 0.002
Chechens 38 0.002
Persians 35 0.001
Laks 29 0.001
Altaians 27 0.001
Khakas 23 0.001
Nenets 22 0.001
Georgian Jews 20 0.001
Croatians 19 0.001
Balkarians 18 0.001
Ingush 18 0.001
Kumyks 17 0.001
Aleutians 16 0.001
Abazins 14 0.001
French 14 0.001
Khanty 13 0.001
Turks 13 0.001
English 12 0.0005
Peoples of India and Pakistan 11 0.0005
Tabasarans 10 0.0004
Koryaks 9 0.0004
Karachay 8 0.0003
Shors 7 0.0003
Afghans 6 0.0002
Annex 21
43
“Nationalities”
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
nationality, %
Khalkha-Mongols 6 0.0002
Japanese 5 0.0002
Izhorians 4 0.0002
Austrians 3 0.0001
Orochi 2 0.0001
Saami 1 0.00004
Selkups 1 0.00004
Other nationalities 342 0.0
Table 8. Population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea by Ethnic Affiliation According to the
2001 All-Ukrainian Census
Ethnic affiliation, nationality (names are given
as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
ethnic affiliation,
nationality, %
Entire population 2,024,056 х
of whom people who specified their ethnic
affiliation, nationality 2,016,986 100.0
including
Russians 1,180,441 58.5
Ukrainians 492,227 24.4
Crimean Tatars 243,433 12.1
Belarusians 29,285 1.5
Tatars 11,090 0.5
Armenians 8,769 0.4
Jews 4,515 0.2
Poles 3,879 0.2
Moldavians 3,761 0.2
Azerbaijani 3,748 0.2
Uzbeks 2,947 0.1
Koreans 2,877 0.1
Greeks 2,795 0.1
Germans 2,536 0.1
Mordvins 2,208 0.1
Chuvash 2,171 0.1
Gypsies 1,896 0.1
Bulgarians 1,877 0.1
Georgians 1,774 0.1
Mari 1,089 0.1
Turks 969 0.05
Udmurts 866 0.04
Izhorians 788 0.04
Tajiks 750 0.04
Czechs 749 0.04
Bashkirs 728 0.04
Karaites 671 0.03
Estonians 612 0.03
Kazakhs 544 0.03
Annex 21
44
Ethnic affiliation, nationality (names are given
as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
ethnic affiliation,
nationality, %
Ossetians 531 0.03
Lithuanians 513 0.03
Latvians 413 0.02
Kurds 394 0.02
Gagauz 387 0.02
Komi-Permyaks 286 0.01
Arabs 268 0.01
Romanians 268 0.01
Chechens 248 0.01
Lezhgians 246 0.01
Nogais 245 0.01
Turkmen 226 0.01
Other nationalities 208 0.01
Krymchaks 204 0.01
Hungarians 186 0.01
Komi 183 0.01
Kyrgyz 142 0.01
Oroks 131 0.01
Spanish 110 0.01
Avars 100 0.005
Assyrians 98 0.005
Karelians 87 0.004
Peoples of India and Pakistan 84 0.004
Abkhazians 80 0.004
Nivkhs 75 0.004
Finns 68 0.003
Kumyks 65 0.003
Laks 61 0.003
Dargins 60 0.003
Ingush 53 0.003
Kabardians 49 0.002
Italians 48 0.002
Slovaks 46 0.002
Albanians 44 0.002
Americans 43 0.002
Adygeis 41 0.002
Buryats 40 0.002
Serbians 34 0.002
Meskhetian Turks 34 0.002
Uighurs 34 0.002
Tabasarans 29 0.001
Abazins 27 0.001
Kalmyks 27 0.001
Afghans 26 0.001
Karachay 25 0.001
Chinese 25 0.001
Yakuts 24 0.001
Vietnamese 21 0.001
Eskimos 21 0.001
Annex 21
45
Ethnic affiliation, nationality (names are given
as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
ethnic affiliation,
nationality, %
Khakas 21 0.001
Persians 20 0.001
Selkups 18 0.001
Circassians 18 0.001
Orochis 17 0.001
Rutuls 15 0.001
Khanty 13 0.001
Nenets 12 0.001
Balkarians 10 0.0005
Evens 10 0.0005
Kara-Kalpaks 10 0.0005
Nganasans 10 0.0005
Saami 10 0.0005
Chuvans 10 0.0005
Tuvinians 9 0.0004
Altaians 8 0.0004
Dutch 8 0.0004
Dungans 8 0.0004
Mansi 8 0.0004
French 8 0.0004
Vepsians 7 0.0003
Livs 7 0.0003
Talysh 7 0.0003
Ulchis 6 0.0003
Udegei 5 0.0002
Austrians 4 0.0002
Evenkis 4 0.0002
Ket 4 0.0002
Tats 4 0.0002
Swedes 4 0.0002
Shors 4 0.0002
Mountain Jews 3 0.0001
Tofalars 3 0.0001
Udins 3 0.0001
Khalkha 3 0.0001
Tsakhurs 3 0.0001
Aguls 2 0.0001
Georgian Jews 2 0.0001
Itelmes 2 0.0001
Koryaks 2 0.0001
Cubans 2 0.0001
Croatians 2 0.0001
Yukagirs 2 0.0001
English 1 0.00005
Dolgans 1 0.00005
Enets 1 0.00005
Nanaians 1 0.00005
Chukchi 1 0.00005
Annex 21
46
Ethnic affiliation, nationality (names are given
as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
ethnic affiliation,
nationality, %
People who did not specify their ethnic affiliation,
nationality 7,070
Table 9. Population of the Crimean Federal District by National Affiliation According to the 2014
Census.
National affiliation
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
national affiliation,
%
Entire population 2,284,769 х
of whom people who specified their national
affiliation 2,197,564 100.0
including
Russians 1,492,078 67.9
Ukrainians 344,515 15.7
Crimean Tatars 232,340 10.6
Tatars 44,996 2.0
Belarusians 21,694 1.0
Armenians 11,030 0.5
Azerbaijani 4,432 0.2
Uzbeks 3,466 0.2
Moldavians 3,147 0.1
Jews 3,144 0.1
Koreans 2,983 0.1
Greeks 2,877 0.1
Poles 2,843 0.1
Gypsies 2,388 0.1
Chuvash 1,990 0.1
Bulgarians 1,868 0.1
Germans 1,844 0.1
Mordvins 1,601 0.1
Georgians 1,571 0.1
Turks 1,465 0.1
Tajiks 874 0.04
Mari 801 0.04
Bashkirs 764 0.03
Udmurts 670 0.03
Ossetians 659 0.03
Kazakhs 628 0.03
Arabs 559 0.03
Karaites 535 0.02
Czechs 499 0.02
Lithuanians 415 0.02
Gagauz 388 0.02
Estonians 350 0.02
Lezhgians 347 0.02
Latvians 344 0.02
Annex 21
47
National affiliation
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
national affiliation,
%
Indians 251 0.01
Nogais 241 0.01
Chechens 236 0.01
Krymchaks 228 0.01
Komi-Permyaks 200 0.01
Turkmen 200 0.01
Romanians 189 0.01
Kurds 174 0.01
Cossacks 158 0.01
Komi 155 0.01
Hungarians 139 0.01
Yazidis 128 0.01
Avars 125 0.01
Dargins 97 0.004
Kyrgyz 90 0.004
Persians 90 0.004
Assyrians 85 0.004
Kumyks 85 0.004
Abkhazians 79 0.004
Italians 77 0.004
Kabardians 72 0.003
Ingush 71 0.003
Spanish 70 0.003
Laks 69 0.003
Karelians 66 0.003
Uighurs 64 0.003
Adygeis 62 0.003
Buryats 60 0.003
Kalmyks 60 0.003
Meskhetian Turks 60 0.003
Finns 59 0.003
Tabasarans 57 0.003
Afghans 48 0.002
Chinese 46 0.002
Serbians 46 0.002
Slovaks 38 0.002
French 37 0.002
Yakuts 33 0.002
Abazins 30 0.001
Karachay 30 0.001
British 27 0.001
Rutuls 27 0.001
Russinians 25 0.001
Circassians 24 0.001
Americans 21 0.001
Khakas 17 0.001
Kara-Kalpaks 15 0.001
Pakistani 13 0.001
Macedonians 12 0.001
Annex 21
48
National affiliation
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
national affiliation,
%
Japanese 11 0.001
Mongols 9 0.0004
Croatians 9 0.0004
Tats 8 0.0004
Tuvinians 8 0.0004
Altaians 7 0.0003
Balkarians 7 0.0003
Mansi 7 0.0003
Nanaians 7 0.0003
Vietnamese 6 0.0003
Latgalls 6 0.0003
Mordvins-Erzya 6 0.0003
Siberian Tatars 6 0.0003
Koryaks 5 0.0002
Nagaybaks 5 0.0002
Khanty 5 0.0002
Lugovo East Mari 4 0.0002
Pomors 4 0.0002
Talysh 4 0.0002
Kryashens 4 0.0002
Chukchi 4 0.0002
Vepsians 3 0.0001
Cubans 3 0.0001
Mordvins-Moksha 3 0.0001
Hemshin 3 0.0001
Shors 3 0.0001
Evens 3 0.0001
Aguls 2 0.0001
Izhorians 2 0.0001
Saami 2 0.0001
Montenegrins 2 0.0001
Evenkis 2 0.0001
Besermyans 1 0.00005
Bosnians 1 0.00005
Mountain Jews 1 0.00005
Adzhars 1 0.00005
Mingrelians 1 0.00005
Dolgans 1 0.00005
Dungans 1 0.00005
Komi-Izhemians 1 0.00005
Kumandins 1 0.00005
Nenets 1 0.00005
Nivkhs 1 0.00005
Pamiris 1 0.00005
Slovenians 1 0.00005
Central Asian Jews 1 0.00005
Mishar 1 0.00005
Udins 1 0.00005
Ingrian Finns 1 0.00005
Annex 21
49
National affiliation
(names are given as per the original source) People
Proportion of
people who
specified their
national affiliation,
%
Yukagirs 1 0.00005
People who provided different answers about
their national affiliation 3,191 0.1
People who did not specify their national
affiliation in the census forms 87,205
of whom people who refused to answer the
question about their national affiliation 6,712
0.3% of the entire
population
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CHAPTER 3. Description of ethno-political processes in Crimea, in particular involving
Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians, since the end of the 1980s until 18 March 2014 and at present
time
1. From the 1990s to the 2000s
1.1. Crimean Tatars in the region
79. As a result of the 1944 deportation initiated by Joseph Stalin, Crimean Tatars were removed
to Central Asia, primarily to Uzbekistan, where they lived for a long time as exiled settlers. In his
Expert Report Professor Paul Magocsi states that the Soviet authorities “almost immediately deported
the entire Crimean Tatar population (288,000)”74 though it is a known fact that the number of
deportees was lower by almost one hundred thousand people – 191,014 Crimean Tatars.75 It is also
known that according to the 1939 census (experts argue that data were exaggerated across the country
in order to please Stalin), there were 218.9 thousand Crimean Tatars in Crimea.
80. Crimean Tatars started returning from the deportation on a large scale under Soviet rule in the
late 1980s as part of Gorbachev’s perestroika. Most Crimean Tatars returned to Crimea toward the
end of the USSR and in the first years after its dissolution. However the resettlement process faced
serious challenges. Scheduled resettlement deadlines did not meet the wishes of most Crimean Tatars
who wanted to return as soon as possible, all the more so as there was a trend in the Central Asian
republics to force Crimean Tatars out. Repatriates and resettlement organisers differed on
resettlement places since the territory Crimean Tatars had formerly lived in – the south coast of
Crimea (SCC) – was already densely-populated. Steppe and low-water areas of Crimea hardly
satisfied all resettlers.76 Once returned to Crimea, repatriates faced problems with settlement and
employment. Besides, there was a general economic downturn in the USSR, with prices for nearly
all consumer goods sharply rising.
81. Many repatriates had financial difficulties after losing those living conditions they had had in
their previous places of residence. Red tape obstructed the normal resettlement process, and there
were problems with passport registration (propiska, i.e. residence registration), provision of land plots
and credits for construction.
82. As the resettlement of deportees began back in the USSR, Crimean Tatars arrived in Crimea
with Soviet citizenship, and after the Soviet Union dissolved, most of them struggled to obtain
Ukrainian citizenship.
83. The Crimean Tatar resettlement process was in large part spontaneous, mostly out of control,
which caused significant social and inter-ethnic tension.77
74 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 15.
75 N.M. Polyan “Against Their Will…History and Geography of Forced Migrations in the USSR”, Moscow, O.G.I –
Memorial, 2001 (Annex 1169), p. 126.
76 See S.Ya. Kozlov, L.V. Chizhova, “Turkic Peoples of Crimea: Karaites. Crimean Tatars. Krymchaks”, Moscow:
Nauka, 2003 (Annex 1170), p. 345.
77 See V. V. Stepanov, “The Return of Crimean Tatars: is there a High Chance of an Ethnic Conflict? Bulletin of the
Russian Academy of Sciences”, 1992, No. 8, pp. 34–42; O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates:
Deportation, Return, and Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998.
Annex 21
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Demands, interests, and social and political activity of Crimean Tatars
84. In the early 1990s, the social and political activity of Crimean Tatars was dictated by the
conditions of their return from the deportation, the repatriation process, and a political movement of
Crimean Tatars that had originated in special settlements. By that time two main organisations of
Crimean Tatars – the National Movement of Crimean Tatars (NMCT, led by Yury Osmanov) and the
Organisation of the Crimean Tatar National Movement (OCTNM, led by Mustafa Dzhemilev) –
raised their policy-related demands: a state-supported organised return of repatriates to the peninsula;
their compact settlement in their ancestral areas, “restoration of the national statehood” of Crimean
Tatars in the form of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic; compensation for financial
damage; a public denunciation of all state acts leading to the deportation.
85. Differences between the NMCT and the OCTNM, which had originally appeared to be
insignificant, resulted in a serious division between them in the future, which, again, reaffirms that
Crimean Tatars are split by political preferences and share different political views. The organisations
differed on theoretical and organisational matters. Whereas the NMCT advocated for the restoration
of the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic under Soviet law, the OCTNM focused on the
ideas dating back to 1917 – “restoration of statehood abolished in 1783” (i.e. a return to the conditions
that existed in the Crimean Khanate period).78
86. Further, the organisations had different external vectors. The OCTNM leaned toward Turkey
and the West and demanded a strict organisational structure where actions would be independent
from the state, whereas the NMCT remained an intellectual and largely ideological association. Later
on the OCTNM adopted an uncompromising stand toward the official authorities, while the NMCT
was willing to engage in a dialogue with them. This particularly manifested itself in the way the
organisations responded to the squatting of land plots by Crimean Tatars which was widespread in
Crimea in 1990–1991. The NMCT condemned squatting as acts that set the authorities and local
population against repatriates and impeded their return, while the OCTNM leaders – accusing the
NMCT of “complicity” – called squatting and unlawful construction an “example” of civil
disobedience and the “first step toward the reclamation of statehood”.79 In 1989–1992, the OCTNM
– capitalising on populism – bolstered its authority among Crimean Tatars, whereas the authority and
influence of the NMCT were weakening, especially after the organisation’s leader Yury Osmanov
was killed in 1993.80 While political motive behind that murder was never officially confirmed, many
people suspected the OCTNM to be behind it.
87. With the emergence of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People,81 which was entrusted with a
representative function, the OCTNM became a radical political force, and afterwards this role was
passed to the Adalet Crimean Tatar National Party. The party’s draft charter read that the party
“str[ove] to build a national state in Crimea based on realization by the Crimean Tatar people of their
78 See O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates: Deportation, Return, and Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998
(Annex 1292), p. 176.
79 Id., pp. 176-177.
80 Ibid.
81 The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People is recognised as an extremist organisation and banned in the Russian Federation
since 26 April 2016.
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52
natural right to self-determination”.82 “A national state” implied a state of ethnic Crimean Tatars. The
party was even more radical than the OCTNM. Its draft charter had no traditional references to
“democratic” goals but to the advancement of Muslim religion.83 There is some evidence that
Crimean Tatar radicals were connected with extremist Pan-Turkic and Islamic organisations in
Turkey, particularly with the “Grey Wolves” nationalist organisation. One of the first documents of
the party’s organising committee – “Statements Relating to the Formation of Crimean Cossacks
Structures” – noted that Adalet retained its right to create “groups of Turkish soldiers (asker in
Turkish), which were traditional in Crimea, in order to protect families and fellow Crimeans from the
threat posed by the so-called Cossacks”. Even though the leaders of the party and the Mejlis later
refuted reports that such groups were organised, the existence of such groups was repeatedly
discussed in the Crimean print media back then. Events that took place in June 1995 in Eastern Crimea
showed that some portion of Crimean Tatars were ready not only for a parliamentary struggle, but for
radical mass action. Mass disturbances were officially reported by the law enforcement authorities to
have been organised. The NMCT’s materials confirm that Adalet members were involved in them.84
88. The spontaneous Crimean Tatar resettlement resulted in them massively squatting land plots
for construction purposes, which in turn led to clashes between Crimean Tatars and the law
enforcement authorities and sometimes even the local population. The largest clashes occurred in the
1990s in the village of Molodezhnoe near Simferopol, the villages of Nizhnie Oreshniki and Sadovoe
of the Nizhnegorsk District, the villages of Zaprudnoe and Krasnokamenka of the Yalta City Council,
and in the state-owned farm Livadiya near Yalta. Conflicts over land resources continued in Crimea
in the 2000s. Crimean Tatars demanded land in coastal areas: Bolshaya Alushta and Tikhaya Bay
near Koktebel. Apart from rallies and pickets regularly taking place near the building of the Council
of Ministers and the Supreme Council of Crimea, Crimean Tatar repatriates and the Slavic population
occasionally clashed with each other.85
89. Demands in the 2000s were different in that tension was purposely shifted from everyday life
to the political area. This was due to the Mejlis’ policy that brought “the restoration of the national
82 See Avdet, 1995, No. 5 cit. on: O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates: Deportation, Return, and
Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998 (Annex 1292), p. 190-191.
83 Ibid.
84 Ibid.
85 S. M. Chervonnaya, “Return and Integration of Crimean Tatars in Crimea: the 1990s” in V.A. Tishkov, “Forced
Migrants: Integration and Return”, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 1997
(Annex 1168), pp. 150-151; See also V. V. Stepanov, “Problems of Ethnic Coexistence in Crimea” in V.A. Tishkov (ed.),
“Forced Migrants: Integration and Return”, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, 1997, pp. 117–144; T. A. Senyushkina “Inter-ethnic Tension in Crimea” in V.A. Tishkov, E.I. Filippova (eds.),
“Bulletin of the Network of Ethnological Monitoring and Early Warning of Conflicts”, Moscow, Institute of Ethnology
and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, EAWARN, 2004, No. 55, pp. 115–117; T.A. Senyushkina,
“Crimea: Land Resources as a Conflict-Generating Factor” in V.A. Tishkov, E.I. Filippova (eds.), “Bulletin of the
Network of Ethnological Monitoring and Early Warning of Conflicts”, Moscow, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, EAWARN, 2004, No. 55, pp. 76–77. Professor Paul Magocsi (Expert report of Mr
Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 81) argues that mass gatherings “in particular the May 18 commemoration of the forced
deportation, often elicited protests on the part of the local Slavic majority population”. In truth, there have never been any
protests on the part of Crimeans against Crimean Tatars and against commemorative dates relating to the deportation.
There were tensions only when Crimean Tatar activists (repatriates) squatted land, and even then these conflicts generally
involved the government authorities rather than the population. As for the argument that it was the local Slavic
(“majority”) population that protested against Crimean Tatars, this opinion is clearly biased since the Slavic population
in Crimea constitutes the absolute majority, and there is no sense in attributing ethnic motives to domestic conflicts when
they take place.
Annex 21
53
statehood of Crimean Tatars” to the front. Besides, the list of “main demands” also included such
items as “recognizing the Crimean Tatar language as official, the education of children in their native
language, restoration of Crimean toponomy, adequate presence of Crimean Tatars in the structures of
power, observing justice in the issue of land, recognition of the deportation as genocide of the
Crimean Tatar people”.86 It could also be attributed, to a lesser extent, to the fact that the Crimean
Tatars’ settlement problems were in part solved.
90. In November 2006, Yury Osmanov’s close associates established Milliy Firqa (“People’s
Party”), a Crimean regional non-governmental organisation of social and cultural development,
which – in contrast to the Mejlis – was officially registered under Ukrainian law in 2007.87 Activists
of the NMCT and Yury Osmanov’s close associates became the party’s founders; they declared that
ideologically they leaned toward the ideas of Eurasianism which had been previously advanced by
Crimean Tatar educator Ismail Gasprinsky. The Mejlis and its leaders in Mustafa Dzhemilev and
Refat Chubarov were the main opponents of Milliy Firqa.
91. Milliy Firqa’s principal activity was to continue the NMCT’s legacy that was rooted in a nonviolent
struggle for a statutory rehabilitation of the repressed Crimean Tatar people, their organised
return to the ancestral homeland, their settlement and development in multi-ethnic Crimea. In
February 2013, the Crimean Tatar People’s Front (CTPF) was established under the auspices of Milliy
Firqa, uniting 15 Crimean Tatar organisations and Muslim communities. The CTPF’s primary
concern was to render nation-wide assistance to the adoption of a law on the rehabilitation of the
repressed Crimean Tatar people.88
Influence of religion
92. The prevailing religion among Crimean Tatars is Sunni Islam. Further, similarly to most
Muslim communities in the regions where other religion dominates, Crimean Tatars’ ethnic and
religious identities mostly match (a Crimean Tatar is a Muslim). In the years Crimean Tatars spent in
special settlements in Central Asia, the religiosity of Crimean Tatars did not form a basis for ethnic
identity since it barely differed from the surrounding Uzbek population and was mostly maintained
at the level of family and household traditions.
93. Professor Magocsi draws an incorrect conclusion that “by the end of the 1930s, most Crimean
Tatars were removed from the local ranks of the Communist party and the autonomous republic’s
administration, leading intellectuals were silenced, and most mosques were closed and their clergy
arrested in an effort to eliminate the traditional symbolic relationship between Islam and Crimean
Tatar identity”89. Not only did nobody reflect on “the symbolic relationship” between Islam and
ethnic identity at that time, but there was even no terminology to define such phenomena. In fact,
there was an ideological – or as it was called then – a “class” struggle and a “struggle against an
ideologically adverse element” across the USSR. Particularly, there was a rigorous struggle against
86 Senyushkina T., “To the 60th Anniversary of the Deportation of Crimean Tatars”, Bulletin of the Network of
Ethnological Monitoring and Early Prevention of Conflicts (ed. V.A. Tishkov, E.I. Filippova, Institute of Ethnology and
Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow), 2004, No. 55 (Annex 1172), p. 99.
87 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), p. 164.
88 Milliy Firqa website, “The Crimean Tatar People’s Front is established in Crimea”, 30 January 2012 (Annex 1293).
89 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 29.
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54
any religion in the 1920s, not only Islam but also Christian denominations and other “cults” (e.g. a
campaign to confiscate church jewellery started back in 1922). In the early 1920s and particularly the
1930s, there was also a struggle against “the opposition” across the country, a policy of “liquidation
of the kulaks as a class” was pursued, and then “the Great Terror” began in the late 1930s that affected
practically all population groups and nationalities in the country.
94. However, after returning to and settling in Crimea, the community of repatriates saw an active
institutionalisation of Islam that was largely influenced from the outside, first of all, by Turkey.
Generally, the late-Soviet and post-Soviet institutionalisation of Islam was typical of many regions,
not only Crimea.
95. Religious communities increased in numbers particularly fast in the second post-Soviet
decade after the absolute majority of Crimean Tatars had returned to the homeland. Back then the
number of religious communities increased by 3.5 times; the number of clergymen – by 54%; the
number of religious educational establishments – by five times; the number of attendees – by two
times; the number of Sunday schools – by three times. Accordingly, there were 1,168 Islamic
religious communities, 503 clergymen, eight religious educational establishments, and 292 attendees
in Crimea by 2010. 90
96. The institutional structure formed in Crimea in 2014 was not homogenous. The region had
communities that were part of several spiritual directorates and centres. The Spiritual Directorate of
Muslims of Crimea (SDMC), the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Ukraine (SDMU), the
Independent Spiritual Centre of Muslims of Ukraine (ISCMU), the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims
of Ukraine “Ummah” (SDMU “Ummah”), the Spiritual Centre of Muslims of Crimea (SCMC).91
97. Besides, out of all registered Muslim communities of Crimea, 49 communities did not form
part of any of the above-mentioned directorates and were independent. Of these, 25–30 communities
belonged to Wahhabis who had extended their influence among Crimean Muslims since the 1990s,
10 communities belonged to Hizb ut-Tahrir, a religious and political movement banned in the Russian
Federation and a number of other countries. For the first time this movement made its presence known
in Crimea back in 2004. 11 communities belonged to Al- Ahbashis who came to Crimea in 2007. The
above-mentioned movements were not traditional in Islam in Crimea and spread under foreign
influence, particularly, that of such countries as Saudi Arabia and Turkey.92
98. Before 2014, one of the most pressing issues in Crimea concerned the allocation of land for
the construction of the Cathedral Mosque. This story dates back to July 2004 when the Simferopol
City Council allocated a land plot measuring 2.7 ha (on 22 Yaltinskaya Street) to the Spiritual
Directorate of Muslims of Crimea and granted it permission to prepare technical documentation for
the construction of the Cathedral Mosque. However, in January 2008, the Simferopol City Council’s
session decided to allocate a different land plot of the same size (on 6 Lugovaya Street) for the
construction of the Cathedral Mosque, and in February Crimean Tatars independently initiated a
campaign on Yaltinskaya Street with a view to collecting shell stone for the construction of the
Cathedral Mosque. It looked as a large-scale seizure of the territory for unlawful construction. There
was a heated discussion over this matter in 2010, including in the public press, and then the
90 T.A. Senyushkina, “The Islamic factor in the confessional space of the Crimea”, Russian and the Muslim World, 2018,
No. 3 (Annex 1294), p. 224.
91 Id., p. 225.
92 Ibid.
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55
Simferopol City Council finally allocated a land plot in the territory Crimean Tatars contended for.93
However there were delays in further process. The problem was eventually solved, and the
construction was actually started only after Crimea had come under the jurisdiction of the Russian
Federation. Currently the construction works are being finalised.94
Foreign influence
99. Insofar as foreign policy and religion are concerned, Crimean Tatars came under foreign
influence in the first two post-Soviet decades. Influence in the area of foreign policy concerned the
Mejlis that followed the course established by the Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People (see below)
in 1991. After the murder of Yury Osmanov in 1993, the Mejlis practically became monopolistic in
terms of international contacts on behalf of Crimean Tatars. While maintaining international contacts,
receiving foreign financial aid and various support, the Mejlis operated absolutely independently from
the Crimean and Ukrainian authorities. Appeals to the global community, regular and extensive
contacts with various international organisations were one of the most important areas of activity of
Crimean Tatar leaders. Back at the 1st Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar People, Mustafa Dzhemilev
delivered a speech where he expressed his gratitude toward foreign radio stations actively
broadcasting to the USSR during the Cold War, including Freedom Radio, Voice of America,
Deutsche Welle, BBC, Radio Canada, human rights organisations Amnesty International, Freedom
House, Centre for Democracy in the USSR, and others. Mustafa Dzhemilev also thanked national
forces and parties of Turkey which had never given up on the Crimean Tatar people fighting for their
own rights.95
100. Leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People were supported by Dzhohar Dudayev’s
regime in Chechnya. Tellingly, before the federal forces initiated a military operation in Chechnya,
on 9 December 1994, the Presidium of the Mejlis made a statement concerning the events in
Chechnya, in which the former expressed its concern over “the aggravation of the situation around
the republic” and supported Dzhohar Dudayev’s regime.96 The Mejlis made another statement after
the Russian forces had launched the operation in Chechnya (the statement came on 29 December
1994). The mass media reported that Crimean Tatar volunteers were sent to Chechnya. And although
it was not the Mejlis, but the OCTNM, that dealt with those matters, Mr Dzhemilev expressed his
opinion on this in no uncertain terms: “The Mejlis has no moral right to dissuade the volunteers from
this!”.97
93 T. Senyushkina, “Social and Political Situation in Crimea”, Russian and the Muslim World, 2013, No. 10 (Annex 1295),
p. 90.
94 Rossiyskaya Gazeta, “Turkish specialists came to Crimea to paint the Cathedral Mosque”, 22 January 2020 (Annex
1016).
95 O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates: Deportation, Return, and Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998 (Annex
1292), p. 197.
96 See Golos Kryma, 1994, No. 49 cit. on: O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates: Deportation, Return, and
Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998 (Annex 1292), p. 197.
97 See Avdet, 1994, No. 23–24 cit. on: O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates: Deportation, Return, and
Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998 (Annex 1292), pp. 197-198.
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56
101. In early 1993, Mr Dzhemilev and Stepan Topal, the Head of the Gagauz Republic, paid a visit
to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and were received there by President Rauf Denktash and
other high ranking officials of the unrecognised state.98
102. Turkey influenced the Crimean Tatar environment to a large extent in the first post-Soviet
years by providing considerable material, financial, and political assistance to Crimean Tatars
returning to the peninsula. It consisted in the creation of joint Ukrainian and Turkish enterprises, with
Ukraine mostly represented by Crimean Tatars in them. A construction programme “1,000 Houses
for Repatriates” at Turkey’s expense was widely advertised in Crimea. Turkey helped create
educational establishments, and in turn Crimea sent Crimean Tatar higher education students to
Turkey. There were agreements under which the Mejlis sent students to higher educational
institutions and apprentices to research establishments in Northern Cyprus and Azerbaijan.99
103. Turkey received representatives of the Mejlis at the highest level as if they had been state
officials. For example, when Mustafa Dzhemilev visited Turkey in May 1996, he officially met
Turkish President Süleyman Demirel, the Speaker of the Turkish Parliament, and the Prime Minister.
Back then the Turkish authorities stressed that Turkey’s attitude toward Ukraine would largely
depend on how the Crimean Tatar problem would be solved.100
104. Practically every foreign delegation that visited Crimea in the first two post-Soviet decades
had direct contacts with the Mejlis, whereas not all delegations graced the official Crimean authorities
with their attention. The leaders of the Mejlis Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov were far better
known in Turkey, Europe, the USA, and Canada than the heads of the Autonomous Republic of
Crimea (ARC). Consequently, post-Soviet Crimea as part of Ukraine was primarily and strongly
promoted on the international stage as a Crimean Tatar autonomy, although that was never the case.
105. Before 2014, mostly Turkey and Saudi Arabia and such countries as Pakistan, Iran, Jordan,
Egypt, Kuwait sent financial, organisational, and human resource “assistance to Crimean Muslims”.
Additionally, Crimean Tatars were under the influence of radical Islamists from Chechnya, North
Caucasus, and Central Asia.101 Mosques and religious educational establishments were generally built
in Crimea at the expense of Turkish and Arabic sponsors. In particular, 15 mosques were erected
using the funds from Saudi Arabia. One of the demands that Arabic sponsors raised was that the
sponsor of the construction of a mosque “recommends” its imam, and that the community should not
obey the SDMC.102 Turkish and Arabic Dozens financial injections helped establish dozens of
religious communities, including Adet, Davet, Azamat, Iman (Simferopol), Minaret (Evpatoria),
Eski-Yurt (Bakhchisaray), and others.
106. It should be noted that radical Islamic organisations (Wahhabism, the Muslim Brotherhood,
Hizb ut-Tahrir) employed the following methods: they actively developed material resources,
purchased real estate, leased premises, operated print newspapers, distributed literature, created
Muslim websites working on a regular basis, held research conferences and meetings with journalists,
98 See Taurida Vedomosti, 1993, No. 16 cit. on: O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates: Deportation,
Return, and Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998 (Annex 1292), pp. 198-199.
99 O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates: Deportation, Return, and Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998 (Annex
1292), p. 200.
100 Id., p. 199.
101 T.A. Senyushkina, “The Islamic factor in the confessional space of the Crimea”, Russian and the Muslim World, 2018,
No. 3 (Annex 1294), p. 224.
102 Id., p. 225.
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57
organised social programmes for the destitute (in particular, purchase of residential property),
educational programmes (teaching the youth the fundamentals of Islam), promoted competition
among the Crimean Tatar clergy, employed legal mechanisms (litigation).
107. In 2010, as a result of influence that foreign religious organisations had over Crimean Tatars,
there was a rift in the Crimean ummah, and a conflict broke out between communities that belonged
to non-traditional Islamic branches and the SDMC.103
Centralised and regional policy toward Crimean Tatars, language and education policy
108. State ethno-national policy in Crimea in the 1990s and 2000s was peculiar in that a social,
economic, and political crisis of the post-Soviet years, which engulfed society as a whole, was
becoming especially severe in Crimea due to the repatriation and settlement of Crimean Tatars. Their
return from the deportation coincided with the dissolution of the USSR, and – instead of a stable
social system – repatriates found themselves in Crimea in a crisis-ridden society with all shortcomings
of the transition period. Only some problems of the repatriation and integration period that had lasted
for more than 20 years were solved, with this leading to heated conflicts in economic, political, social,
cultural, and religious areas.
109. The Crimean authorities took a number of measures to address Crimean Tatar problems. They
resettled Crimean Tatars in accordance with Resolution of the Council of Ministers of Crimea of 5
June 1992 No. 143 “On the return, resettlement, and settlement of Crimean Tatars”. However this
process was mainly spontaneous. There was no state repatriation programme at that time yet. In light
of this, repatriates were unevenly resettled in cities and districts of the peninsula.
110. It is only after 10 years of the active repatriation stage that – in order to speed up the provision
of residential property to repatriates – the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution of 15
March 1999 No. 375 “On approving the procedure for providing deportees and their family members
who returned to ukraine with residential property, either built or purchased at the expense of
government investments” which set out that, apart from the construction of new residential property,
repatriates could purchase residential property at the expense of the government. Furthermore, the
Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution of 9 August 1999 No. 1447 thereby approving
“The procedure for providing a long-term interest-free government credit for private housing projects
to deportees who returned to Ukraine on a permanent basis”. There was also “The programme for the
resettlement and settlement of deported Crimean Tatars and persons of other nationalities for 2001–
2005”, which was approved on 28 September 2000 at a meeting of the Government Committee for
People Deported on Ethnic Grounds”. It is worth noting that many areas were already squatted by
that time and spontaneously built-up by repatriates.
111. To improve inter-ethnic relations in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Cabinet of
Ministers of Ukraine adopted Resolution of 10 January 2002 No. 29 “On approving the program for
the adaptation and integration of deported Crimean Tatars and persons of other nationalities into
ukrainian society, the revival and development of their culture and education”, Resolution of 25
January 2002 No. 88 “On approving the programme for assisting the social development and
adaptation of the Crimean Tatar youth for 2002–2005”, and Resolution of 16 May 2002 No. 618 “On
103 T.A. Senyushkina, “The Islamic factor in the confessional space of the Crimea”, Russian and the Muslim World, 2018,
No. 3 (Annex 1294), p. 225.
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58
approving the programme for the resettlement and settlement of deported Crimean Tatars and persons
of other nationalities who returned to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on a permanent basis, for
the period until 2005”.
112. However numerous problems involving the settlement of repatriates remained outstanding.
There was still no sufficient engineering infrastructure in the micro-districts and areas where
repatriates were settling in. Of these, only 58% had power supply, and only 19% – water supply
(others lived on vended water), 10% – hard-surface roads, only 3% – mains gas, and almost none of
them had sewerage systems.
113. Each repatriate received a total area or residential property of 8.2 m2 on average. By 2006,
approximately 154 thousand people had residential property, meaning that a little over than half of
the repatriates received it (57%). Government investments actually helped build and purchase 343.7
thousand m2 of this residential space, which allowed providing 28.6 thousand people with residential
property, while 125 thousand repatriates, i.e. more than 80% of the residential property owners,
completed their construction of residential property using their own funds or purchased it on their
own.
114. Repatriates faced certain employment problems. Overall, of 133 thousand Crimean Tatars
fully fit for employment, only around a half had regular jobs.104 Employment among the idle youth
was particularly disturbing, especially when it came to school graduates without any work experience.
A republican employment agency reported that only 8.6% of the Crimean Tatar youth aged under 26
were employed in 2006. The unemployed Crimean Tatar population’s primary income came from
small holdings, rented land allotments, and shuttle business (they traded in imported goods). 75% of
sellers in Crimean markets were Crimean Tatars. There were also many people who solely lived off
their pensions, unemployment benefits, child allowances, disability pensions.
115. Tension appeared in inter-ethnic relations in Crimea following demographic changes and
under the sway of political and economic factors. The bitterest inter-ethnic conflicts were over land
resources. Land in Crimea – particularly in the most comfortable areas – has always been one of the
most valuable resources. In the 2000s, conflicts typically broke out on the southern coast of Crimea
(Simeiz, Gurzuf, Koktebel) and in the central and most heavily-populated Simferopol District (the
most acute situation ensued after Crimean Tatars squatted land on Balaklavskaya Street). Crimean
Tatar activists set up tented camps in those territories, and the situation occasionally aggravated. In
2012, a new hotbed of tension appeared in the area of the Petrovsky Rocks where land was again
squatted. That same year, the Avdet non-governmental organisation staged a Crimean Tatar protest
on Lenin Central Square in Simferopol.
116. It should be noted that there were some positive trends in terms of the land question.105 More
specifically, in 2012, the Land Committee of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic
of Crimea approved a road map under which the boundaries of squatted land plots were approved,
the general layout of Simferopol and that of several villages in the Simferopol District were changed,
and detailed layouts of squatted city plots were developed. All these preparatory works finally laid
104 O.A. Gabrielyan, V.P. Petrov, “Crimean Repatriates: Deportation, Return, and Settlement”, Simferopol, 1998 (Annex
1292), p. 154.
105 See T. A. Senyushkina, “New Approaches to Solving the Land Problem in Crimea” in V. A. Tishkov, E. I. Filippova
(eds.), Bulletin of the Network of Ethnological Monitoring and Early Warning of Conflicts, Moscow, Institute of
Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, EAWARN, 2006, No. 69, pp. 107–109.
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the groundwork for the legalisation of squatted land plots. That same year, the Cabinet of Ministers
of Ukraine received for consideration a draft of “The programme for the resettlement and settlement
of deported Crimean Tatars and persons of other nationalities, their adaption and integration into
Ukrainian society, for the period until 2015”.106
117. It was at the same time that in January 2012 – for the first time in 20 years in independent
Ukraine – there were parliamentary hearings on “Ethno-national policy of Ukraine: achievements and
prospects” where attention was paid to Crimean problems associated with repatriates and their
settlement, and it was stressed that a concept of state ethno-national policy needed to be adopted. A
draft law “On the concept of state ethno-national policy” was prepared and registered back in 2005,
but the Verkhovna Rada would not adopt it.
118. The State Committee for Nationalities and Religions was dissolved in 2012 as well. This
agency managed processes in the ethno-national field and cooperated with religious organisations
and organisations of national minorities. Following an administrative reform, these functions were
vested with the Ministry of Culture by a leftover principle.
119. The language situation in Crimea in the 1990s and 2000s – just like in Soviet times – was that
for the most part Russian was spoken in everyday life. Moreover, the role of the Ukrainian and
Crimean Tatar languages slightly improved. There were additionally – albeit rarely – more than a
dozen languages spoken at local and family levels as before. With the Russian language generally
prevalent, this clearly did not correspond to ethnicity. A considerable portion of local Ukrainians,
Crimean Tatars, Jews, Germans, Karaites, Krymchaks, and others did not have a command of the
relevant languages and continued communicating only in Russian.
120. The Directorate of Information and Inter-ethnic Relations of the State Committee on
Nationalities and Deported Citizens of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea reports that in 1997 the
total number of pre-school establishments with national languages of instruction amounted to 816,
and 60,564 children studied there. 39,557 students attended general educational institutions where
Crimean Tatar was studied as a subject, with the other subjects taught in Russian. The Vernadsky
Taurida National University and the Crimean State Engineering and Pedagogical University prepared
teaching personnel for educational institutions where Crimean Tatar was taught. The total number of
students graduating with a professional command of Crimean Tatar was 485.107
1.2 Ukrainisation and the Ukrainian language in the region
121. Before the referendum of 16 March 2014, Crimea was one of the largest non-Russian regions
in the post-Soviet area where ethnic Russians constituted a majority of the population. According to
the 2014 census, representatives of 175 nationalities (ethnicities) lived on the Crimean Peninsula.
More than 95% of the Crimean population (including Sevastopol) belongs to the three groups –
Russians (67.9%), Ukrainians (15.7%), Crimean Tatars and Tatars (12.6%). This numerical
dominance of the Russian population over the previous decades largely determined the pattern of
demographic, ethno-social, and language processes on the Crimean Peninsula. That most Crimeans
106 See The Cabinet of Ministers Received a Draft Programme for the Resettlement of Deportees, Avdet No. 2 (685), 16
January 2012.
107 See “Information about National and Cultural Communities of Crimea and Satisfaction of Cultural and Educational
Needs of National Minorities”, Spectrum: News and Analytics Bulletin on Ethnic Policy, Inter-ethnic Relations, and
Conflict Science, 1997, No. 1 (15), pp. 43–49.
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60
(not only Russians) oriented toward the Russian language had a considerable impact upon regional
identity that was in large part not connected with the state of Ukraine.108
Promotion of Ukrainisation policy in social and cultural areas (including the formation of
historical memory), attitude toward this policy at the local level, reaction of the population
122. There was no sense in expecting (as Professor Paul Magocsi would want it109) that the
Ukrainian language would prevail without any coercion in the mass media in the Russian-language
Crimea when Crimea was under the jurisdiction of Ukraine. Under Soviet rule, when Crimea was
transferred from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic in 1954, in all schools of Crimea, save for Sevastopol, students were obliged to study
Ukrainian as a separate subject from the 2nd to 8th grades and Ukrainian literature in Ukrainian – until
the final year (10th grade), and had to take a school-leaving examination. However, as a rule,
Ukrainian was not used in everyday life and on a daily basis. Certain families used Ukrainian in
Crimea, and not because of schooling, but as part of family traditions and their own linguistic identity.
The linguistic identity of most Crimeans remained Russian.
123. An important clarification should be made here about official data relating to linguistic
identity. State censuses of the Soviet times were organised in such a manner that there was basically
no accurate information concerning languages. The point is that the question about the native
language in census forms directly followed the question about nationality, and for this reason the
reply to the first question almost automatically determined the reply to the second question because
respondents specified the language that corresponded to their nationality [ethnicity] regardless of
whether they identified themselves with that language or not, and whether they have a command of
that language or not. Therefore, the results showed that some languages – especially “titular” ones
(national languages of the Union Republics, including Ukrainian) – were unrealistically widespread
in the USSR. Meanwhile, the linguistic self-identification of the population and the actual movement
of languages were not that significant. It is only since 1970 that state censuses had an additional
question “specify also other language of the peoples of the USSR”, but it helped little to improve the
accuracy of results since the first two questions and their order remained unchanged. The
methodological error made during censuses was corrected in the Russian Federation only in 2010,
when respondents were asked what languages they had a command of and what their native language
was before asking the question about national affiliation. But the error of the Soviet period was
repeated in the first and only Ukrainian census of 2001: the following questions were asked – No. 6
“Your ethnic origin”, No. 7 “Your linguistic features: a) native language (specify), b) if Ukrainian is
not your native language, specify whether you are fluent in Ukrainian, c) other language you have a
fluent command of (specify)”. Notwithstanding this methodological error, it transpired that only 10%
of the Crimean population answered in 2001 that Ukrainian was their native language, with 77%
opting for Russian as their native language.110 Only 6.8% of respondents in Sevastopol answered that
108 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of
Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), pp. 16, 78.
109 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 90.
110 See Linguistic composition of population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in State Statistics Committee of
Ukraine, All-Ukrainian population census’ 2001, General results of the census (Annex 765).
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Ukrainian was their native language, with 90.6% opting for Russian as their native language.
Particularly, 40.4% of Ukrainians in Crimea answered that Ukrainian was their native language, with
59.5% opting for Russian as their native language. 29.6% of Ukrainians in Sevastopol answered that
Ukrainian was their native language, with 70.1% opting for Russian as their native language. In
contrast to the Ukrainian census, this methodological error was rectified in the 2014 Russian census
in Crimea, thereby yielding more adequate results: only 3.3% of the entire population answered that
Ukrainian was their native language, with 20.3% of all Ukrainians in Crimea opting for Ukrainian as
their native language. Such is the reality of linguistic identity in Crimea. Conversely, speaking
Ukrainian at the level of school and everyday life – though to a lesser degree – is typical of a far
greater number of the population. According to the 2014 Russian census in Crimea, 21.8% of
inhabitants of the peninsula said they had a command of Ukrainian, whereas this figure was 44.6%
among local Ukrainians.111 Consequently, the Ukrainian census (2001) and the Russian census in
Crimea (2014) revealed that Ukrainian linguistic identity is hardly prevalent in Crimea, but a
command of Ukrainian – though to a lesser degree – is generally widespread.
124. Ukraine even has problems involving the use of Ukrainian in the modern era, with this country
taking extensive political efforts to change compulsorily language priorities of the population for
more than ten years. According to official statistics of Ukraine’s Gosstat (State Statistics Service),
aside from newspapers, there were 2.6 thousand titles of other periodical printed media and nonperiodical
publications in 2016. These include all journals, collected books, calendars, bulletins, and
others. The absolute majority of them are commercial publications and therefore should serve the
interests of the mass audience. In spite of Ukrainian law, of all titles of periodical printed media 38%
were published in Ukrainian, 22% – in Russian and Ukrainian (these publications oftentimes have
inserts or separate pages or sections in Ukrainian), and 13% – in Russian only. And if we compare
annual circulations, the average consumer’s interest is even more obvious: the volume of periodicals
in Ukrainian is only 19%, with that in Russian and Ukrainian – 9%, and that in Russian only – 71%.
A situation involving newspapers published in Ukraine is even more illustrative: Ukrainian-language
newspapers rank first in terms of the number of titles – 60%, whereas Ukrainian and Russian titles
comprise only 11%, and newspapers in Russian only – 28%. However the annual circulation of
Ukrainian-language newspapers is modest – 33%, with newspapers published in both languages
accounting for 4% and those published in Russian – 63%. Besides, statistics shows that the clear
advantage of Russian in the information market of Ukraine remained intact during surveys between
2010 and 2016, and it is evident that the same situation was in previous years.112
125. With such a large-scale public need for the Russian language in Ukraine, the school education
system appears to be artificial or, rather, forced. 89.7% of the total number of students in Ukraine
were taught in Ukrainian in the 2016/2017 academic year, with only 9.4% obtaining education in
Russian.113 However it is Russian that is in demand in private fee-paying schools, with 31% of all
students obtaining education in Russian in such fee-paying schools. But there are few general
111 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), pp. 118-119.
112 State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Mass media and book publishing in Ukraine in 2016. Statistical Bulletin”, Kiev,
2017 (Annex 795), pp. 4, 16, 24.
113 Here and elsewhere about languages of instruction in Ukraine, see: State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “General
Educational Institutions of Ukraine at the Beginning of the 2016/17 Academic Year. Statistical Bulletin”, Kiev, 2017
(Annex 796), p. 60.
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educational fee-paying schools in Ukraine, with only 0.6% of children studying there since the greater
part of the population cannot afford to pay for schooling.
126. There were oftentimes conflicts between the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the official
Ukrainian government concerning language policy and education. There was a “mixed” reception of
Order of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine of 26 May 2008 No. 461 “On approving
the industry-specific programme for improvements in the study of Ukrainian in general educational
institutions with minority languages as the language of instruction, for 2008–2011” that entered into
force since 1 September 2008. To implement this programme, it was expected that educational
establishments with Russian as the language of instruction would teach some subjects in Ukrainian
and then entirely shift to teaching all subjects only in Ukrainian. The Association of School Principals
of Crimea opposed that initiative. The Maarifchi Association of Crimean Tatar Education Workers
also voiced its disagreement with the decision because they believed that not only did that order
undermine the revival of Crimean Tatars in the ancestral homeland but was also openly
discriminatory against “the reviving Crimean Tatar education system”.114
127. It is particularly worth mentioning a situation involving a Ukrainian history textbook that
Crimean students used in their studies. The standard textbook was published in Lvov in Ukrainian
using a grant provided by American billionaire George Soros, and it had wide circulation. The
textbook was translated into Russian and delivered to Crimea. Each chapter of the textbook ended
with the topic of “National Liberation Struggle of the Ukrainian People” in which anti-Russian
ideological principles were inculcated. Schools held obligatory classes and exhibitions dedicated to
the Holodomor (i.e. death by hunger in Soviet Ukraine). The image of Ukraine and Ukrainians as a
“victim” harmed by Russia was increasingly cultivated in the information and education environment.
128. With regard to the mass media, quotas were forced on the Crimean radio and television
broadcasting system – Ukrainian had to be used in a certain portion of broadcasting time. For instance,
Trans M Radio, a popular Crimean radar station, had to broadcast songs of Ukrainian music bands
performed in Ukrainian in the evening. Cinemas faced similar quotas and had to show movies in
Ukrainian, 1–2 movie showings per day. TV movies and popular TV series broadcast on television
channels were shifted into Ukrainian.
129. Administrative procedures shifted into Ukrainian, which made the life of average citizens
more complicated. Physicians, engineers, and other workers from socially important areas who had
no command – or had an insufficient command – of Ukrainian had to use Ukrainian in documents.
The population was forced to fill in important documents, to obtain information about medicines, and
to do other things in that language.
Actual position of the Ukrainian language in official and education areas and everyday life
130. According to the 2001 all-Ukrainian census, ethnic Ukrainians accounted for 24.4% of
Crimean’s population,115 with 77% Crimeans perceiving Russian as their native language and only
10% – Ukrainian.116 Various data suggest that no more than 3–5% of Crimeans regularly used
114 See “Social and Political Processes in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea: Main Trends”, Kiev, 2008, p. 18.
115 See National structure of population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in State Statistics Committee of Ukraine,
All-Ukrainian population census’ 2001, General results of the census (Annex 765).
116 See Linguistic composition of population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in State Statistics Committee of
Ukraine, All-Ukrainian population census’ 2001, General results of the census (Annex 765).
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Ukrainian in everyday life. The Ukrainian-speaking population primarily lived in the northern regions
of the peninsula, which was due to a deported Crimean Tatar population replacement policy after the
end of the Second World War. Since Soviet times, all students – from the second grade in elementary
school to the final years in high school – studied the Ukrainian language and Ukrainian literature as
compulsory subjects in Crimean schools, excluding Sevastopol. However, in practice, school
graduates had a very poor command of Ukrainian.
131. As concerns the Soviet period, it is hard to find separate statistics for Crimea on the knowledge
of languages among people of young and juvenile age. However even general information about
ethnic Russians in Ukraine is fairly telling. In the 1989 census, across the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist
Republic in general, more than half of Russians aged 10–24 did not know any other language except
Russian. This figure was even higher in Crimea since the share of ethnic Russians was the largest
there.
Table 3. Number of ethnic Russians aged 10–24 in terms of the knowledge of languages in the
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic according to the 1989 All-Soviet Census.117
Age Total number Command of
Russian
No command of
any other
language
% of those with
no command of
any other
language
10-14 828,474 810,706 470,666 56.8
15-19 774,482 758,294 396,166 51.2
20-24 723,948 710,377 392,606 54.2
2,326,904 2,279,377 1,259,438 54.1
132. Attempts to create a special approach to addressing language problems in Crimea – with this
approach being dependent on ethno-cultural and linguistic features of the population – found their
reflection in the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea adopted on 21 October 1998.
Article 11 of that document set forth that “official documents confirming one’s civil status” shall be
executed “in Ukrainian, Russian and, upon request, in Crimean Tatar” in the Autonomous Republic
of Crimea.118 However no one developed actual mechanisms to implement the provisions on
document management in the three languages.
133. Russian-language media outlets absolutely dominated the mass media in the Autonomous
Republic of Crimea throughout the entire post-Soviet period and until 2014. The total circulation of
newspapers in Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, and other languages did not exceed 5%. The Krym State
Television and Radio Broadcasting Company and commercial television and radio broadcasting
companies broadcast most of their programmes in Russian. By 2008, there were only five print media
outlets in Crimea published in Ukrainian only; whereas there were 987 Russian-language ones.
134. In Crimea, the following newspapers came out: the Ukrainian-language newspaper Krymska
Svitlytsia (founded by the All-Ukrainian Taras Shevchenko Society “Prosvita”, the National Writers’
Union of Ukraine, and employees of the newspaper editorial office), as well as its insertions –
Rodnichok, Budmo, Krym Sport, as well as Krymsky Dialog, a weekly Ukrainian-language insertion
117 State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Results of the 1989 All-Union Census, Vol. 7, Part 3. Division of the population
of individual ethnicities living in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic by age and by language” (Annex 763).
118 Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, 21 October 1998, available in Russian at:
https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/krym/show/en/rb239k002-98/ed19981021#Text, Article 11.
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64
to Krymsky Visti. Dzvin Sevastopolya [“Bell of Sevastopol”] was published in Sevastopol. However
experts noted that Crimean Ukrainian-language newspapers did not enjoy wide popularity among the
population. In 2000s Krymska Svitlytsia and Dzvin Sevastopolya had a circulation of no more than
1.5 thousand copies, with a low level of public demand being the reason behind that.119
135. In 2008, the Ukrainian government attempted to introduce an “independent test” system into
education that provided for a single test language – Ukrainian – for secondary school graduates. This
idea was lambasted in Crimea since at that time 95.6% of Crimean students were taught in Russian,
6.3% – in Crimean Tatar, and only 3.2% – in Ukrainian. In light of the above, the Supreme Council
of Crimea and the Ministry of Education and Science of the autonomous republic sought permission
from the Ministry of Education of Ukraine to allow Crimean school graduates to take tests in Russian.
The then Chairman of the Supreme Council of Crimea, Anatoly Gritsenko, stated that the decision of
the Ministry of Education of Ukraine created unequal opportunities for students, including those
enrolling at higher education establishments. Afterwards, the Minister of Education and Science of
Ukraine adopted Order of 24 January 2008 No. 33 approving the testing procedure under which
students who were obtaining education in “minority languages” had their tests – with the exception
of the Ukrainian language and literature – “translated into the relevant language” during the 2008–
2009 transition period, if so desired. Crimean politicians of that time viewed the Ukrainian language
testing as yet another attempted forced Ukrainisation of Crimea. One politician, Leonid Grach, argued
that “the external independent assessment in the Ukrainian language in Crimea is a flagrant violation
of constitutional rights of Crimeans that deeply affects ethnic feelings of students and their
parents”.120
Ukrainian identity in Crimea
136. Prevalent cultural and linguistic identity historically formed on the peninsula under the
dominant influence of Russian culture since the Russian language was the main language of
communication for decades. Further, civic identity formed on the peninsula between 1991 and 2014
as an intertwinement of Russian, Ukrainian, and former Soviet identities. For each person the
combination of these forms of civic identities depended on his or her generational (age-related)
affiliation. The young generation – born and socialised after the collapse of the USSR in independent
Ukraine – became most involved in the process of Ukrainian civic identification. However, according
to an opinion poll conducted by the Razumkov Centre in 2008, more than half (55.5%) of Crimeans
identified themselves with the Russian cultural tradition. This applied to both the absolute majority
of ethnic Russians and ethnic Ukrainians living on the peninsula, whereas only every fifth Ukrainian
of Crimea considered himself or herself to be a follower of the Ukrainian cultural tradition. A
considerable portion of Crimeans – mostly Russians and Ukrainians – identified themselves with the
Soviet cultural tradition in that poll.121 As experts of the Razumkov Centre noted, most Crimeans –
119 Korrespondent.net, “Korrespondent 10 years ago: Ukrainization of Crimea. 2004 Exclusive”, 18 March 2014 (Annex
896).
120 See “Social and Political Processes in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea: Main Trends”, Kiev, 2008, p. 17.
121 The opinion poll was conducted in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol from 18 October to 9
November 2008. 6,891 people aged 18 or over were surveyed in the course of in-person interviews. The poll’s theoretical
error is 1,2%. See Razumkov Centre, Sociological survey “With which cultural tradition do you identify yourself”,
October-November 2008 (Annex 816).
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65
in terms of character, customs, and traditions – associate more closely with residents of Russia who
– if we take this indicator – are closer to them than Ukraine in general and some of its regions. At the
same time, national and confessional factors largely influence the perception of social and cultural
closeness.122 Most Crimeans favoured a flexible approach toward Ukrainian citizenship at the time.
Back in 2008, some half of Crimean respondents said they were ready to change their Ukrainian
citizenship into that of another state, and the majority of them were ethnic Russians. Respondents
favoured Russian citizenship.123
137. In describing relations between ethnic and civic identities in Crimea, attention should be paid
to the regional specificity that was clearly evident on the peninsula. In some cases civic identity was
related to ethnic feelings, in other cases – to a sense of belonging to the local community and
territory.124 There is a popular saying in Crimea that harkens back to old days: “There is no land
behind Perekop” (i.e. on the other side, in Ukrainian territory), which bore evidence of the
community’s territorial estrangement and a clearly explicit regional Crimean identity that oftentimes
displaced Ukrainian civic identity.
138. The poor development of Ukrainian civic identity of Crimeans was largely due to the fact that
most residents of the peninsula lacked an individual involvement in Ukrainian social and cultural
traditions.125
2. From 2014 to date
139. On 18 March 2014, based on the results of the referendum held in the Autonomous Republic
of Crimea and Sevastopol, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Crimea signed in Moscow an
agreement on the admission into the Russian Federation of the Republic of Crimea and formation of
two new constituent entities in the Russian Federation. The agreement was enshrined in law by
Federal Constitutional Law of the Russian Federation No. 6-FKZ “On the admission of the Republic
of Crimea into the Russian Federation and the formation of new constituent entities within the Russian
Federation – the Republic of Crimea and the federal city of Sevastopol”, approved by the State Duma
on 20 March and the Federation Council on 21 March, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin
on 21 March 2014. The Republic of Crimea acquired its own Constitution and became the 84th
constituent entity of the Russian Federation on 11 April 2014.
2.1. Crimean Tatars in the region
140. Political conflicts within the Crimean Tatar elite intensified in that period, which was
popularly called the “Crimean Spring”. It transpired that various groups of the elite had different
122 Razumkov Center, Work materials for the professional discussion on the topic “Autonomous Republic of Crimea today
and tomorrow: territory of risk or zone of conflict?”, 18 December 2008 (Annex 818), p. 13.
123 Razumkov Centre, Sociological survey “If you had an opportunity, would you change your Ukrainian citizenship to
another?”, October-November 2008 (Annex 817).
124 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of
Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), pp. 86-87.
125 Razumkov Center, Work materials for the professional discussion on the topic “Autonomous Republic of Crimea today
and tomorrow: territory of risk or zone of conflict?”, 18 December 2008 (Annex 818), p. 15. See also Razumkov Centre,
Analitical Report “Social and political, international and inter-confessional relations in the Autonomous Republic of
Crimea”, National security and defence, 2008, No. 10 (104) (Annex 815), p. 5.
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66
opinions on the “national idea” (see below). Nevertheless, within a year, as at March 2015, only 2–
3% of Crimean Tatars did not have Russian passports, with only 500 Crimean Tatars reported opting
for Ukrainian citizenship by renouncing the Russian one.126
Demands, interests, and social and political activity of Crimean Tatars
141. As noted above, before 2014 the prevalent political and organisational influence over Crimean
Tatars was exercised by an ideological line related to the Mejlis, which was headed for many years
by Mr Dzhemilev who delegated his powers to Mr Chubarov. Politically, the Mejlis supported
nationalist forces in the Ukrainian political environment since anti-Russian sentiment united them.
Organisationally, the Mejlis was in practice a power structure that saw itself (at least politically) as
an alternative to the Crimean authorities, though it was not legalised under Ukrainian law. Moreover,
the Mejlis had a branched governance structure on the ground – in districts and villages densely
populated by Crimean Tatars – which allowed it to mobilise large numbers of repatriates for political
purposes. This is exactly how the Mejlis organised a rally on 26 February 2014 by mobilising five
thousand Crimean Tatars near the building of the Supreme Council of Crimea in the centre of
Simferopol in order to prevent the Crimean Parliament from reinstating the Crimean Constitution of
1992.
142. The events of February–March 2014 turned the tide for the Crimean Tatar agenda. The Mejlis
found itself completely demoralised in the first days, but on 27 February it passed a decision “On the
Creation of Joint Territorial Headquarters Engaged in the Resolution of the Social and Political
Situation in Crimea Involving Regional Mejlises, District Public Administrations, Mayors of Cities,
and the Law Enforcement Authorities”, which could be treated a signal for the Ukrainian government
that the Mejlis was ready to coordinate the struggle against “Russian aggression” on the peninsula.127
Once outside Crimea, Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov tried to portray themselves as martyrs
for the people’s cause who were illegally expelled from their historical homeland.128 The Mejlis urged
compatriots to boycott the referendum. However an opinion poll held a week before the referendum
by the Crimean Bureau of Sociology, Analytics, and Marketing showed that 62.8% of Crimean Tatar
respondents were ready to attend the referendum, 19.5% declared they would boycott it, and 17.7%
answered they had not decided yet.129
143. After prohibition of the Mejlis other Crimean Tatar political forces became active. On the one
hand, the group was represented by members of the NMCT, who created Milliy Firqa that served as
an alternative to the Mejlis (see above), and a number of non-governmental organisations, with Sebat
126 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), p. 282. As a result of the meeting
of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea, it was decided to create in Crimea an electronic database of people
repressed under Stalin’s rule and without Russian citizenship to cater to their social and other needs. The submission
period during which these people could voluntarily submit their documents to urban and district administrations was
scheduled for between 5 and 17 March 2015. See State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea
official website, “The Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea held a meeting, which addressed the problems of
citizens from among repressed nations who returned to Crimea”, 4 March 2015 (Annex 456).
127 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), pp. 274–275.
128 Id., p. 288.
129 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), pp. 274–275.
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67
as one of the most active ones that supported the Crimean Spring, as well as some Crimean Tatars
who had meaningfully cooperated with the government authorities and occupied senior positions in
the Crimean Parliament and government over the years. The latter created a new non-governmental
organisation in June 2014 – Qirim Birligi (Unity of Crimea).130
144. It should be also noted that a new non-governmental organisation of Crimean Tatars – the
Qirim Interregional Crimean Tatar Public Movement – was established in 2014 and registered under
Russian law. The movement was headed by Remzi Ilyasov who had done state service back in Soviet
times and had been in charge of the Mejlis’ ideology under Ukrainian rule. To render assistance in
addressing the problems of Crimean Tatars relating to the integration in Russia was one of the
movement’s principal policy objectives.
145. Internal competition for leadership began as Crimean Tatars were getting used to the Russian
environment. In the autumn of 2014, during one of the meetings on state national policy, Sergey
Aksyonov, Head of Crimea, declared that he believed that Remzi Ilyasov was a national leader of
Crimean Tatars. However Seytumer Nimetullaev, Chairman of Qirim Birligi, remonstrated, “I think
that it is only Crimean Tatars who can say who their national leader is… We are making tremendous
efforts and meeting all Crimeans. Now there is no larger Crimean Tatar non-governmental
organisation in Crimea than Qirim Birligi”.131 Another example of competition is a confrontation
between non-governmental movements that laid claim to the political heritage of the formerly
dominant NMCT and OCTNM. Vasvi Abduraimov and Enver Kantemir-Umerov, close associates of
Yury Osmanov who was killed in 1993, were aiming for leadership at the NMCT. While the number
of followers of the above organisations was rather limited, the Mejlis no longer had a monopolistic
influence on Crimean Tatars and enjoyed a progressive decline in popularity.132
Influence of religion
146. Starting from March 2014, after the referendum and admission of the Republic of Crimea to
the Russian Federation, religious organisations of Crimea found themselves in a new situation in
which they had to adapt to the Russian legal environment. The Ministry of Justice of the Russian
Federation reports that as at 1 October 2015 there were 335 religious organisations registered in the
territory of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol,133 but the actual number of religious organisations
had been much greater by early 2014. Not all organisations were officially reregistered since only
those organisations that belonged to traditional religious denominations could use a simplified
registration procedure, and the rest had to be examined by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian
Federation.
130 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), p. 164.
131 See Krymskoye Vremya, 27 November 2014 cit. on: N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk,
“Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta,
2015 (Annex 1195), p. 288.
132 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), p. 164.
133 See Rossiyskaya Gazeta, “Report of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation”, 24 March 2016,
available in Russian at: https://rg.ru/2016/03/24/ombudsman-doklad-dok.html#letter/document/79582.
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147. Since 2014, most Islamic religious organisations became part of the SDMC, which helped
overcome the internal conflict in the Crimean ummah. The Taurida Muftiyat134 was also
established.135
148. The most discussed matters in the Crimean ummah included the construction of the Cathedral
Mosque in Simferopol, the return of houses of worships to Muslims, educational and charitable
activities on the peninsula.
149. On 27 October 2018, Simferopol hosted the 6th Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea. The delegates
unanimously expressed their confidence in the current Mufti Hajji Emirali Ablaev and extended his
term of office for five more years. Emirali Ablaev was first appointed to the position of Mufti in 1991
and then reappointed at the Qurultays in 2004, 2008, and 2013.136
150. It is necessary to note that laws relating to the extremist activities of religious organisations
have an impact upon religious processes, e.g. the Federal Law of 25 July 2002 “On countering
extremist activities”, the Anti-Extremism Strategy in the Russian Federation until 2025, the
Resolution of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of 28 June 2011 “On
judicial practice in criminal cases involving extremist crimes”. As a result of the new laws in Crimea,
and owing to a more effective state policy in the regulation of national and religious matters, the
conflict intensity of ethnic and confessional relations in Crimea has remarkably decreased since 2014.
There is also less foreign influence over Crimean Muslims. There are already imam training courses,
and cooperation is maintained with Islamic universities in the Russian Federation in this respect.
Federal and republican policy in respect of Crimean Tatars
151. The new status of Crimea fundamentally changed the forms and pattern of ethno-political
processes on the peninsula. From 2014 onwards, the federal authorities and the government
authorities of the Republic of Crimea have pursued national policy in the region under federal laws
but with due regard to regional aspects and the need for a transition period.
152. After Crimea’s return to the Russian Federation, the federal centre and the republic’s
leadership took joint action and managed within a very short time to ease the tension over many
problems of Crimean Tatars that were the biggest source of irritation under Ukrainian rule over the
years.137 First and foremost, Crimean Tatar was finally recognised as an official language alongside
with Russian and Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatars and other nationalities deported under Stalin’s rule
were politically rehabilitated.
153. The decisive factor in fostering support among the Crimean Tatar population for the return of
Crimea to the Russian Federation was that the Russian, Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar were enshrined
134 The Taurida Muftiyat was established in 2014 and is not under the control of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of
Crimea. It follows a different Muslim tradition and complies with Russian law.
135 T.A. Senyushkina, “The Islamic factor in the confessional space of the Crimea”, Russian and the Muslim World, 2018,
No. 3 (Annex 1294), pp. 225-226. See also Official website of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims – Taurida
Muftiyat, “Activities of the Central Spiritual Administration of Muslims – Taurida Muftiyat”, available in Russian at:
http://cdumk.ru/tsdumtm/deyatelnost-tsdumtm.
136 Official website of the Centralized Religious Organization “Spiritual Administration Of Muslims Of The Republic Of
Crimea And The City Of Sevastopol (Taurida Muftiyat)”, “VI Qurultay of Muslims of Crimea concluded its work
(PHOTOS)”, 27 October 2018, available in Russian at: https://qmdi.org/vi-kurultay-musulman-kryima-zavershil-svoyurabotu-
foto/.
137 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), p. 292.
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in the Constitution of the Republic of Crimea as official languages,138 and that the President of the
Russian Federation adopted Decree No. 268 “On measures aimed at rehabilitation of Armenian,
Bulgarian, Greek, Crimean Tatar and German peoples and state support of their revival and
development”.139 This decree is important in that the illegality of the deportation of the abovementioned
peoples from Crimea was essentially recognised at the highest state level for the first time.
It is equally important that the decree strives to restore historical justice, to remedy consequences of
the illegal deportation, and the violation of rights, including proprietary and cultural ones.
154. Starting from the spring of 2014, the republican authorities and the federal centre have made
significant progress in solving key problems involving the settlement and social and cultural
development of repatriates. The Federal Target Program “Social and economic development of the
Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol until 2020” was being implemented.140 Its aim is to
complete all electric and water supply works in the repatriates’ areas of compact settlement, to
accelerate the gasification of the relevant residential settlements, to complete the works on many
construction-in-progress facilities.
155. Already back in 2014, 106.4 million Rubles were provided for the settlement and social and
cultural development of repatriates, including 96.05 million Rubles for capital construction. The
result is that the following facilities were constructed and commissioned: 90 apartments in a 180-
apartment residential building in Simferopol (6,518 m2), 10 houses in the village of Timofeevka of
the Dzhankoy District (602 m2), seven houses in the village of Ilyichevo of the Lenin District (409
m2), five houses in the village of Yarkoe Pole of the Kirov District (285 m2), electricity grids in the
village of Zuya of the Belogorsk District (3.5 km), gas grids in the micro-district of Khoshkeldy of
Simferopol (4.1 km), and others. An additional amount of 100.9 million Rubles was provided for the
shared-equity construction of residential property for repatriates in Bakhchisaray.141
156. In 2016, according to the federal target program’s plan and as part of the settlement of citizens
from among the rehabilitated peoples of Crimea, design and survey works were carried out in
accordance with 38 investment projects, of which 10 facilities proceeded to construction and
installation works at that time.142
157. Funds allocated for social and cultural events and ensuring inter-ethnic concord were used in
the funding of such activities as the transportation of water to the repatriates’ areas of compact
settlement (for 23.6 thousand people) amounting to 4.8 million Rubles, publication of literature in
native languages, support of the mass media in native languages, cultural events, and others.143
138 Constitution of the Republic of Crimea, 11 April 2014 (Annex 62), Article 10.
139 Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 268 “On measures aimed at rehabilitation of Armenian,
Bulgarian, Greek, Crimean Tatar and German peoples and state support of their revival and development”, 21 April 2014
(Annex 63).
140 See Regulation of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea No. 363 “On aspects of implementation of the
Federal Target Program ‘Social and economic development of the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol until
2020’”, 29 June 2015 (Annex 90).
141 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), p. 290.
142 State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea official website, “Report on the activities of the
State Committee for 2016” (Annex 470).
143 N.V. Kiselyova, A.V. Malgin, V.P. Petrov, A.A. Formanchuk, “Ethno-Political Processes in Crimea: Historical
Experience, Modern Challenges and Prospects”, Simferopol: Salta, 2015 (Annex 1195), p. 291.
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158. A number of measures were taken at the time to establish institutions and organisations to
cater to the cultural and information needs of repatriates. The following establishments were created:
State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea (SBI RC) “Centre of Information and Social
Technologies of the Development of International Communications in the Republic of Crimea”, SBI
RC “International Friendship Centre”144 to coordinate the activities of national and cultural societies
and other ethno-cultural organisations. State Autonomous Institution of the Republic of Crimea
“Gasprinsky Media Centre”145 officially started working. This centre publishes the Crimean Tatar
newspaper Qirim haberleri and web-based media.
159. A Crimean Tatar state television and radio broadcasting company was registered and
commenced its operations after purchasing necessary equipment.146
160. According to decrees of Sergey Aksyonov, Head of the Republic of Crimea, Eid al-Fitr and
Eid al-Adha were declared non-working public holidays in Crimea.147 Pilgrims from Crimea took
part in the Hajj in Saudi Arabia with the support of the Russian Council of Muftis.148
161. Attempts are made to develop Crimean Tatar culture and preserve its historical heritage.
Dozens of Crimean Tatar landmarks and monuments enjoy state protection.149
162. There is a Federal Target Program in Crimea “Strengthening the unity of the Russian nation
and ethno-cultural development of the peoples of Russia (2014–2024)” approved by Decree of the
Government of the Russian Federation of 20 August 2013 No. 718. The program established a
procedure for using budget funds of the Republic of Crimea allocated for events dedicated to the
development of the social and cultural area of deportees and events dedicated to ensuring inter-ethnic
concord in the Republic of Crimea. As per the program’s objectives, there are measures taken to
ensure the national, cultural, and spiritual revival of Crimean Tatars.
163. Regulatory activities in the area of national policy intensified in Crimea for the first time. In
2016, the State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations and Deported citizens of the Republic of Crimea
has participated in preparation of 21 laws and regulations: Law of the Republic of Crimea of 18
February 2016 No. 218-ZRK/2016 “On measures of social support for rehabilitated persons and
persons who have suffered from political repressions”; Law of the Republic of Crimea of 29
December 2016 No. 335-ZRK/2016 “On amendments to Article 3 of Law of the Republic of Crimea
144 State Budgetary Institution of the Republic of Crimea “International Friendship Centre” official website, available at:
http://ddncrimea.ru/.
145 State Autonomous Institution of the Republic of Crimea “Gasprinsky Media Centre” official website, available at:
https://mediacentr.org.ru/.
146 Autonomous non-profit organization “Public Crimean Tatar TV and Radio Company “Millet” official website,
available at: http://trkmillet.ru.
147 State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea official website, “Report on the activities of the
State Committee for 2016” (Annex 470).
148 RIA Novosti Krym, “Crimea to send a thousand Hajj pilgrims under the quota system”, 7 January 2020 (Annex 1014).
149 E.g. sixteen sites composing the Museum of History and Culture of Crimean Tatars (the Khan’s Palace) along with
the Juma-Jami Mosque located at 36/1/3 “B” Revolyutsii St., Evpatoriya, Republic of Crimea, Tahtali-Jami Mosque
located at 7 Gasprinsky St.,Bakhchisaray, Republic of Crimea, Mosque and Madrasa located at 5 Chapayev Lane, Staryi
Krym, Republic of Crimea, Mosque (ruins) located at 2 “A” Eski-Jami St., Dobrovskoye Village Settlement, Pionerskoye
Village, Simferopol District, Republic of Crimea, Dervish lodge located at “A”, “B”, “b”, “V” 18 Karayev St., Evpatoriya,
Republic of Crimea, Zincirli Madrasa School located at 57A Basenko St., Bakhchisaray, Republic of Crimea, Haci Geray
Dürbesi Tomb located at 57 “O” Basenko St., Bakhchisaray, Republic of Crimea and others were included in the unified
State register of cultural heritage sites (monuments of history and culture) of the peoples of the Russian Federation. See
Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2073-r approving the List of cultural heritage sites of federal
significance located in the territory of the Republic of Crimea and the City of Sevastopol, 17 October 2015 (Annex 92).
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‘On measures of social support for rehabilitated persons and persons who have suffered from political
repressions’”; Law of the Republic of Crimea of 30 December 2016 No. 347-ZRK/2016 “On
amendments to Article 35 of Law of the Republic of Crimea ‘On regulation of certain issues in the
sphere of housing relations in the Republic of Crimea”; Order of the Council of Ministers of the
Republic of Crimea of 5 May 2016 No. 451-r “On the approval of the event plan for the
implementation in the Republic of Crimea of the set of measures for the restoration of historical
justice, political, social and religious revival of the Armenian, Bulgarian, Greek, Italian, Crimean
Tatar and German peoples, who were illegally deported and politically repressed on ethnic and other
grounds, for 2016”; Order of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea of 5 May 2016 No.
452-r “On holding events dedicated to the Day of remembrance of victims of the deportation from
Crimea”; Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea of 18 April 2016 No. 157
“On approval of the Procedure for the provision and spending of subsidies from the budget of the
Republic of Crimea to the budgets of municipal entities in the Republic of Crimea for co-financing
of capital investments and capital repairs in municipal property and acquisition of real estate in
municipal ownership in 2016 and invalidation of the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the
Republic of Crimea of 23 March 2015 No. 130”; Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the
Republic of Crimea of 7 July 2016 No. 324 “On approval of the Procedure for providing and spending
other inter-budgetary transfers to the budgets of municipal entities for measures to ensure the rights
of rehabilitated citizens”. 150
164. There was also Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Crimea of 31 May
2016 No. 230 “On the procedure for provision for rehabilitated persons and victims of political
repression in the territory of the Republic of Crimea of social support on payment for connecting to
water disposal, gas supply and electricity supply”. Besides, as part of the programme “Purchase of
residential property for citizens from among the rehabilitated peoples of Crimea”, 118 residential
houses and apartments were purchased in the territory of 17 municipal districts and urban districts of
the Republic of Crimea with a view to providing residential property to the above-mentioned category
of people in 2016. 151
165. Already by mid-2019, budget funds of the Republic of Crimea had been spent on purchasing
owner-occupied dwellings for people belonging to the rehabilitated peoples of Crimea in nine
densely-populated Crimean Tatar districts – Bakhchisaray, Belogorsk, Dzhankoy, Krasnogvardeysk,
Nizhnegorsk, Lenin, Pervomaysk, Raznolnensk, and Soviet.152
166. We can conclude that Russia’s policy toward repatriates in Crimea – primarily toward
Crimean Tatars – is evidently aimed at catering to the social and cultural needs of this population
group and stabilising inter-group relations in the region.
150 State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea official website, “Report on the activities of the
State Committee for 2016” (Annex 470).
151 Ibid.
152 State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea official website, “Own housing was bought for
citizens from among the rehabilitated nations of Crimea in 9 districts of the Republic of Crimea”, 20 September 2019
(Annex 489).
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Language and education policy
167. In total, there are 50 mass media outlets broadcasting in Crimean Tatar in Crimea.153
Additionally, national (ethnically oriented) television and radio channels have general licences. The
declared broadcasting time is 168 hours per week, meaning that Crimean Tatar broadcasters can
broadcast on a round-the-clock basis.154
168. There is a state programme in the Republic of Crimea called “Development of the mass media
network in native languages” which is financed from the republican budget. The Civic Crimean Tatar
Television and Radio Broadcasting Company, the Gasprinsky Media Centre, and the Millet television
channel are active in the Crimean media space. Newspapers Meraba (in Russian), Yañı Dunya (in
Crimean Tatar), and magazine Yildiz (in Crimean Tatar) are published with the republican authorities’
assistance.155
169. According to Article 10 of the current Constitution of the Republic of Crimea, Russian,
Ukrainian, and Crimean Tatar are official languages of the Republic of Crimea. Article 19 of the
Constitution of the Republic of Crimea sets out that every citizen is entitled to use his or her native
language, to choose freely his or her language of communication, education, instruction, and art.
Instruction in, and study of, native languages in Crimea are governed by the federal and regional laws
and regulations. There were no such freedoms in the region before 2014. Since 2012, Russian has
been an official (regional) language only in Sevastopol. In other parts of Crimea, Russian and
Crimean Tatar did not have such a status. Instead, the Constitution of the Autonomous Republic of
Crimea of 1998 had an ambigious provision that Russian and Crimean Tatar “were used in all
spheres”.
170. Based on a free, voluntary, and informed choice of the language of instruction and study, every
educational organisation in Crimea determines languages of instruction for an academic year under
Federal Law of 29 December 2012 No. 273-FZ “On education in the Russian Federation”. Students
are instructed in Crimean Tatar and study native languages at school on the basis of applications from
their parents (legal representatives). According to Part 2 of Article 11 of Law of the Republic of
Crimea of 6 July 2015 No. 131-ZRK/2015 “On education in the Republic of Crimea”, rights of
citizens to obtain education in native languages and to study native languages are put into practice by
creating a required number of relevant educational organisations, grades, groups, and conditions for
their operation. Besides, native languages are taught in accordance with federal state educational
standards.
171. The Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of the Republic of Crimea organised, translated,
edited, published, and delivered 66 educational editions (textbooks, programmes, vocabularies) in
Crimean Tatar with a total circulation of 61 thousand books. Moreover, there were 45 educational
publications back in 2015 and additionally 21 educational publications in 2016. They included
textbooks for compulsory subjects as well as exemplary programmes “Crimean Tatar (Native)”,
153 TASS, “Roskomnadzor: Crimean media integrate into the information space of the Russian Federation”, 12 November
2015 (Annex 936).
154 Ibid.
155 State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea official website, “Report on the activities of the
State Committee for 2016” (Annex 470).
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“Crimean Tatar Literature”, and “Crimean Tatar (Non-Native)”. All textbooks were recorded in the
register of educational editions of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.156
172. A Crimean Tatar and Russian school vocabulary was published for the first time almost two
years after Crimea became part of the Russian Federation.157 It contains four thousand words and is
intended for students of general educational establishments with Crimean Tatar as the language of
instruction. It is unique in that it has words covering the eight key general education subjects,
including biology, mathematics, music, health and safety, the world around us, handicraft, physical
education, geography. Specialists note that not only does this guide help students to build their
semantic systems of their native languages, but also to improve and develop them.
173. These educational editions were distributed among schools and grades with Crimean Tatar as
the language of instruction. Target financing was provided from the republican budget for this
purpose.
Participation and proportion of Crimean Tatars in power
174. There were three Crimean Tatar deputies of the State Council of the Republic of Crimea as at
2018. Crimean deputies elected Edip Gafarov, a Crimean Tatar, as Deputy Chairman of the State
Council of the Republic of Crimea in July 2018. Remzi Ilyasov, a Crimean Tatar, previously held the
position of Vice Speaker of the Crimean Parliament from May 2014 to 2018.158
175. As of 2019, Albert Kangiev headed the State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the
Government of the Republic of Crimea. Insofar as ministers are concerned, E. Ablaev is Acting
Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities of the Republic of Crimea. There were Crimean Tatar
deputy ministers in the following ministries: Ministry of Property Relations (one person), Ministry
of Culture (2 persons), Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth (1 person), Ministry of Agriculture
(one person), Ministry of Resorts and Tourism (one person). Insofar as deputy ministers of state
committees are concerned, the following committees had Crimean Tatars in those positions: State
Committee for Veterinary (one person), State Committee for State Registration and Cadastre (one
person).159
176. There is the Council of the Crimean Tatar People – which was formed on 17 February 2018
at an extraordinary Qurultay of Crimean Tatars – that functions as an advisory and consultative body
under the Head of the Republic of Crimea. The Council ensures feedback between the republican
authorities and the Crimean Tatar population. The Council is composed of 15 specialists from various
fields. Members of the Council were elected by open ballot, including Mufti of Crimea Emirali
Ablaev, Olympic champion Rustem Kazakov, Head Physician of the Inkerman Hospital Gayde
Degirmendzhi, philologist and publicist Ayder Emirov, and others. The Council is headed by Mufti
Emirali Ablaev. 160
156 Ministry of Education, Science and Youth of the Republic of Crimea official website, “The Ministry of Education of
Crimea pays great attention to creating conditions for the study of native languages”, 2 March 2017 (Annex 472).
157 Ibid.
158 T.A. Senyushkina, V.V. Stepanov, R.A. Starchenko, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in Crimea.
Expert Report for 2018”, Moscow-Simferopol. ARIAL Publishing and Printing House, 2019 (Annex 1207), p. 20.
159 Ibid.
160 Decree of the Head of the Republic of Crimea No. 93-U “On establishing the Council of Crimean Tatars under the
Head of the Republic of Crimea”, 29 March 2018 (Annex 112).
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2.2. Ukrainian culture and the Ukrainian language in the region
Language, education, and culture policy (approaches, achievements, and shortcomings),
human and civil rights
177. Language, education, and culture policy in respect of local Ukrainians is pursued in
accordance with the general federal standards of state national and culture policy of the Russian
Federation in conformity with the principles of a complete equality of rights with other population
groups in modern Crimea.
178. There is an online news outlet in Ukrainian – Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0 – that operates with the
support of the Head of the Republic of Crimea.161 The regional non-government organisation “The
Ukrainian Society of Crimea” operates in the region and a magazine is published in Ukrainian.162 The
state authorities and non-government organisations take efforts to ensure that traditional holidays and
memorable dates relating to Ukrainian culture are celebrated.
179. Instruction in Ukrainian – which is an official language under the Constitution of the Republic
of Crimea alongside with Russian and Crimean Tatar – and study of Ukrainian as a native language
are carried out in Crimean schools on the basis of applications from the parents (legal representatives)
of students.
180. Not only the state authorities but also non-governmental organisations are involved in the
preservation and development of Ukrainian culture in modern Crimea. The Ukrainian Society of
Crimea promotes the Ukrainian language and holds an annual festival called “Obzhinki”, which is
associated with the people’s agricultural calendar.163 The festival takes place in late August every
year. People sing folk songs and attend numerous cultural events at the festival.
181. There are annual calendar events in Crimea dedicated to the Ukrainian poets Taras Shevchenko,
Lesya Ukrainka, and Ivan Franko.164
182. The first quarterly cultural and educational magazine in Ukrainian “Krym syogodni” [“Crimea
Today”] came out in June 2020 in Crimea. The magazine demonstrably debunks the myth that the
linguistic and cultural rights of Ukrainian-speaking citizens are violated on the Crimean Peninsula.
As noted by Anastasia Gridchina, Chair of the Ukrainian Community of Crimea and Editor-in-Chief
of “Krym syogodni”, the idea to release the first Ukrainian-language glossy magazine in the region
originated back in 2015. The first issue was dedicated to the 75th Anniversary of Victory in the Great
Patriotic War. The magazine presents the life history of war heroes – representatives of the Ukrainian,
Russian, and Crimean Tatar peoples, including sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko, marshal Fedor
Tolbukhin, and fighter pilot Amet-Khan Sultan.165
161 Pereyaslavska Rada 2.0 official website, available in Ukrainian at: http://pereyaslavskayarada.com/.
162 RIA Novosti Krym, “First magazine in the Ukrainian language in the region presented in Crimea”, 2 June 2020 (Annex
1025).
163 State Committee for Inter-ethnic Relations of the Republic of Crimea, Report on implementation of the State Program
of the Republic of Crimea on strengthening the unity of the Russian Nation and ethnocultural development of the peoples
of the Russian Federation “The Republic of Crimea - the territory of inter-ethnic harmony” for 2019 (Annex 485).
164 Ibid.
165 RIA Novosti Krym, “First magazine in the Ukrainian language in the region presented in Crimea”, 2 June 2020 (Annex
1025).
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Demand for and actual state of Ukrainian language
183. The absolute majority of the population in Crimea – more than 80% – perceives Russian as
their native language. According to opinion polls, three fourths of Ukrainians say that Russian is their
native language.166 It was possible to list (to name) only one native language in the questionnaire as
part of the 2014 state census in Crimea. In fact, Crimean residents quite often have two native
languages, especially Ukrainians who named Ukrainian as their native language during the census,
whereas most of them speak Russian which is their second native language. This was identified during
large-scale population surveys in 2013–2014 and later on. According to a 2013 poll conducted by the
Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 60.2% of Ukrainian
respondents chose Ukrainian as their native language, whereas 76.3% of Ukrainians said that Russian
was also their native language.167
184. The Crimean population very rarely uses Ukrainian in everyday life. According to the 2015
micro-census 17.5 thousand people were surveyed in Crimea proportionately to the number of
residents in all municipalities, only 2.6% of the population use Ukrainian in everyday life, and 16%
of ethnic Ukrainians speak this language in everyday life, whereas 98.5% of Crimean Ukrainians use
Russian as their ordinary language.168 Ukrainian was likewise unpopular as an everyday language in
previous decades.
185. Despite this, Ukrainian is an official language in Crimea. It can be used even in parliamentary
debates and hearings but in practice, as far as we know, there is no call for this language to be used
for such purposes. Regional state authorities can also be addressed in Ukrainian.
186. Ukrainian is used in relevant non-governmental organisations to the full extent, especially when
it comes to festivities and literary publications.
Ukrainian identity in Crimea
187. Opinion polls conducted in 2013 and 2014 by the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of
the Russian Academy of Sciences revealed that a sizeable portion of local Ukrainians identified
themselves as belonging to several ethnic groups, not just one. For instance, in Simferopol a fourth
of them identified themselves as both Ukrainians and Russians.169 At the same time, one should not
ignore the fact that there are Ukrainians in Crimea whose Ukrainian identity “strengthened” after the
statehood of Crimea was changed. This conclusion could be drawn after a social media analysis.
Some people have relatives in Crimea with whom they maintain family connections. However this
strengthening of Ukrainian identity is not large-scale,170 and it is generally arguable that – in terms
166 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of
Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), p. 80.
167 Ibid.
168 See Table. 10.7 “Population of Certain Nationalities Taking Part in the Micro-Census, by Language Used in Everyday
Life” in Federal Service of State Statistics, Report on the main results of the federal statistical observation “Social
demographic survey (Microcensus of the population) of 2015” (Annex 464).
169 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of
Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), p. 82.
170 R.A. Starchenko, “Linguistic and Ethno-Political Orientations of Crimeans in 2013 and 2014” in V.Yu. Zorin, R.A.
Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of Monitoring and Early Warning
Annex 21
76
of civic identity – most ethnic Ukrainians in Crimea identify themselves as Russian citizens, Russian
nationals. It would, of course, be incorrect to say that all Ukrainians identify with Ukrainian
nationality and civic identity.
Attitude of Ukrainians toward Crimea’s reunification with the Russian Federation
188. Professor Magocsi alleges that “[e]thnically conscious Ukrainians, whose numbers increased
during the quarter century of post-independence Ukraine, also were fearful of the return of Russian
rule in March 2014”.171 It is unclear what Ukrainians he is talking about. If he means Ukrainians
living in Crimea, their number did not increase but rather decreased by the 2001 all-Ukrainian census
by 49.3 thousand people as compared with the 1989 all-Union census. The Ukrainian government
estimates that the number of ethnic Ukrainians in Crimea in 2001 was 576.7 thousand people,172
whereas there were 625.9 thousand Ukrainians on the peninsula in the 1989 all-Union census.
189. If he means ethnic Ukrainians across Ukraine, their number did increase in post-soviet
Ukraine by the 2001 all-Ukrainian census by 122.6 thousand people. However this number is very
small since, if we compare it with that of the 1989 all-Union census, the increase was a mere 0.3%
over a long period of 12 years.173 The number of Ukrainians constantly increased at far higher rates
and at shorter time intervals in the post-war Soviet decades. This is obvious from all-Union censuses:
there was an increase of 2.5% in the number of Ukrainians in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic
in 1989 over 10 years as compared with 1979, an increase of 3.4% in 1979 over 9 years as compared
with 1970, an increase of 9.7% in 1970 over 11 years as compared with 1959. With that in mind, the
reason behind this increase in number of Ukrainians is not the proclamation of Ukraine’s
independence but rather a simple continuation of the previous Soviet practice of ethnic selfidentification
of the population. The increase of Ukrainians in post-Soviet Ukraine has been the
smallest for the entire period after World War II. A gradual reduction in the Ukrainian population
growth rate in Soviet and modern Ukraine was due to demographic reasons behind the depopulation
(the second reason is that people migrated from Ukraine into other states, mostly into Russia).
190. Professor Magocsi’s further contention that “since 2014 several thousand Ukrainians have left
Crimea for mainland Ukraine, where they now live a precarious existence as refugees”174 is wholly
unsubstantiated since from 2014 onwards, there has been no outflow of refugees or any large-scale
migration from Crimea to Ukraine. There were only some Crimeans who had relatives or residential
property in some region of Ukraine, and they decided not to obtain Russian citizenship and to move
(or return) in order to settle there permanently. People leaving Crimea in 2014 and later on are mostly
simple migrants taking part in a traditional migration exchange between Crimea and Ukrainian
oblasts that existed in previous years. Nowadays this migration exchange is complicated by political
restrictions imposed by Ukraine, but it still continues. Since 2014, as in previous years, more people
have permanently resettled into Crimea from Ukraine than have left Crimea. According to passport
of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), p. 82.
171 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 97.
172 See National structure of population of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in State Statistics Committee of Ukraine,
All-Ukrainian population census’ 2001, General results of the census (Annex 765).
173 See National structure of population of Ukraine in State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, All-Ukrainian population
census’ 2001, General results of the census (Annex 765).
174 Expert report of Mr Magocsi (Annex 21 to UM), para. 98.
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77
registration statistics in Crimea, for six years between 2014 and 2019, the positive migration balance
with Ukraine amounted to +11.7 thousand people on average per annum.175 In the years preceding
the peninsula’s change of jurisdiction, Crimea also had a positive migration balance with Ukraine but
the figure was lower. For six years between 2008 and 2013, the balance amounted to +2.4 thousand
people on average per annum.176
Table 4. Population growth in Crimea because of migration exchange between Ukraine’s regions in
2008–2019 (according to permanent residents’ passport registration data)
Republic of Crimea,
people Sevastopol, people Total on the Crimean
Peninsula, people
2008 +935 +1,707 +2,642
2009 +890 +1,203 +2,093
2010 +1,521 +811 +2,332
2011 +1,744 +651 +2,395
2012 +820 +1,058 +1,878
2013 +1,717 +1,483 +3,200
On average for 2008–2013 +1,271 +1,152 +2,423
2014 +7,102 +2,329 +9,431
2015 +15,500 +7,608 +23,108
2016 +8,085 +5,066 +13,151
175 Calculated based on: Territorial Body of the Federal State Statistics Service of the Republic of Crimea, “Main Trends
of Migratory Movement of the Population of the Republic of Crimea in 2014. Press issue”, 2015 (Annex 1296), p. 2;
Territorial Body of the Federal State Statistics Service of the Republic of Crimea, “Main Results of Migratory Movement
of the Population of the Republic of Crimea in 2015. Press issue”, 2016 (Annex 1297), p. 1; Territorial Body of the
Federal Service of State Statistics of the Republic of Crimea, Report “Social and Economic Situation of the Republic of
Crimea in January 2017”, Simferopol, 2017 (Annex 1298), p. 57; Territorial Body of the Federal State Statistics Service
of State Statistics of the Republic of Crimea, Report “Social and Economic Situation of the Republic of Crimea in
January–December 2017”, Simferopol, 2018 (Annex 1299), p. 64; Directorate of the Federal State Statistics Service of
the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, “Main Results of Migratory Movement of the Population of the Republic of
Crimea in 2018. Press issue”, Simferopol, 2019 (Annex 1300), p. 2; Directorate of the Federal State Statistics Service for
the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, Report “Social and Economic Situation of the Republic of Crimea in January–
December 2019”, Simferopol, 2020 (Annex 1301), p. 70; Directorate of the Federal State Statistics Service for the
Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, Report “Social and Economic Situation of the Republic of Crimea in January 2020”,
Simferopol, 2020 (Annex 494), p. 68; Directorate of the Federal State Statistics Service for the Republic of Crimea and
Sevastopol, Report “Social and Economic Situation of the Republic of Crimea in January–December 2020.”, Simferopol,
2021 (Annex 1303), p. 70; Directorate of the Federal State Statistics Service for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol,
“Main Results of Migratory Movement of the Population of Sevastopol in 2017. Press issue”, Sevastopol, 2018 (Annex
1304). p. 2; Directorate of the Federal State Statistics Service for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, Report “Social
and Economic Situation of Sevastopol in January 2019”, Sevastopol, 2019 (Annex 1305), p. 53; Directorate of the Federal
State Statistics Service for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, Report “Social and Economic Situation of Sevastopol
in January 2020”, Sevastopol, 2020 (Annex 1306), p. 52; Directorate of the Federal State Statistics Service for the
Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol, Report “Social and Economic Situation of the Republic of Crimea in January 2015”,
Simferopol, 2015, 1 January 2015 (Annex 452), p. 33; Directorate of the Federal State Statistics Service for the Republic
of Crimea and Sevastopol, Sevastopol population statistics, 2014-2018 (Annex 487), p.1.
176 Calculated based on: State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, “Statistical Yearbook of Ukraine for 2008”, 2009 (Annex
1307), p. 356; State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, “Statistical Yearbook of Ukraine for 2009”, 2010 (Annex 1308), p.
353; State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2010. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2011 (Annex
1309), pp. 424, 428; State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2011. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev,
2012 (Annex 1310), pp. 426, 430; State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2012. Demographic
Yearbook”, Kiev, 2013 (Annex 783), pp. 429, 433; State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2013.
Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2014 (Annex 786), pp. 273, 277.
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78
Republic of Crimea,
people Sevastopol, people Total on the Crimean
Peninsula, people
2017 +6,000 +2,519 +8,519
2018 +2,000 +2,244 +4,244
2019 +3,794 +2,711 +6,505
On average for 2014–2019 +7,737 +3,953 +11,691
191. There is no reason to believe that the peninsula’s population decreased as a result of migration
after Crimea became part of the Russian Federation. The population decreased over the previous
twenty years for a purely demographic reason – population aging – accompanied by death rate greater
than birth rate. The Crimean population decreased since 1995 when the largest number of Crimean
Tatars had completed their arrival in the region. According to the 2001 all-Ukrainian census, the
Crimean population decreased by 29.3 thousand people as compared with the 1989 all-Union census.
The number of Crimeans increased in the first half of this census interval because low birth rate and
high death rate figures were compensated for by the Crimean Tatar repatriation, and then the number
of Crimeans began to decline. In the next decade, the migration inflow into the peninsula could no
longer compensate for a natural decrease in population, and for this reason the total decrease was to
be inevitably large over the next (and longer) period between the censuses. According to “current”
(passport) statistical accounting of Ukrainian agencies, there was an estimated decrease of 50
thousand people as at the beginning of 2014 as compared with the 2001 census.177 However, as
statisticians know full well, if one directly compares the number of passport registrations and the
number of people identified during a distant census, this leads to a considerable misrepresentation of
the actual situation.178 More realistic data may be obtained by comparing two censuses, in our case –
the 2001 census (Ukraine) and the 2014 census (Russia). This comparison revealed that, as a matter
of fact, there was an even larger decrease in the Crimean population – 116.4 thousand people. Given
the demographically old age composition of Crimeans,179 this decrease was consistent with the annual
population decline of 0.4–0.5%. It should be once again noted that the population decline in Crimea
did not happen overnight (in 2014 as alleged) but continued as a constant demographic phenomenon
(natural decrease) between the 2001 and 2014 censuses.
192. The migration situation above is corroborated by the 2014 census results that show that, in the
previous 12 months, i.e. between October 2013 and September 2014, 24.8 thousand people came
from Ukrainian regions to settle permanently on the peninsula, with this figure higher than even in
previous years,180 and 11.3 thousand people came from Russian regions. This census also revealed
177 It is possible to obtain this figure by comparing the population size in the 2001 census, when 2,401,209 people were
accounted for in Crimea and Sevastopol, with the current statistical accounting data under which the population of Crimea
and Sevastopol was 2,353,129 people as at 1 January 2014, with an average of 2,350,872 people in 2013. See State
Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Current Population of Ukraine as at 1 January 2014”, Kiev, 2014, 1 January 2014 (Annex
785), p. 6.
178 In particular, it is for this very reason that Ukrainian statistical agencies, after obtaining the 2001 census results,
adjusted the population size in Crimea over the previous decade.
179 According to 2012 data, people aged 60 and over accounted for a fifth of the population of Crimea and Sevastopol
(21.3%), with the share of children aged under 15 being 14.8%, See State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of
Ukraine for 2012. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2013 (Annex 783), pp. 41, 42.
180 In 2012, 14 thousand people arrived in Crimea and Sevastopol to settle there permanently, in 2013 – 8.4 thousand
people (State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2012. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2013
(Annex 783), pp. 429, 433; State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Current Population of Ukraine as at 1 January 2014”,
Kiev, 2014, 1 January 2014 (Annex 785), p. 8).
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79
that 356 thousand people – or 16.1% of the peninsula’s entire population – are natives of Ukrainian
oblasts.181 As noted above, given that there were only 1.9 thousand people who left for Ukraine from
Crimea in 2014, it is evident that the vast majority of Ukrainian natives did not leave the peninsula
and acquired Russian citizenship.
193. Most people who renounced their Russian citizenship in 2014 did not leave Crimea but stayed
in their previous places of residence. Their number considerably exceeds the number of people who
left the peninsula because 2.5% of the peninsula’s population answered that they were not Russian
citizens during the October 2014 census. Besides, 46.4 thousand people (2.1% of the population) said
they had Ukrainian citizenship, 5.4 thousand people (0.2%) – citizenship of other states, 3.4 thousand
people (0.15%) had no citizenship at all.
194. To support the argument that there was no large-scale migration and outflows of “refugees”
from Crimea into Ukraine, let us briefly describe the migration situation in Ukraine.
195. Official Ukrainian statistics shows that no account has been taken of information from the
Donetsk and Lugansk Oblasts since 2014. It is common knowledge that there was an outflow of
people from these oblasts affected by armed hostilities, with this outflow mostly going into the
Russian Federation. Ukrainian migration statistics for 2014 and onwards could not have accounted
for information from Crimea and Sevastopol. However Ukrainian statistics certainly recorded those
cases when people arrived from the above-mentioned regions into Ukrainian oblasts and vice versa.
In light of the above, if there had been outflows of refugees from the Donetsk and Lugansk Oblasts
and Crimea in the direction of Ukrainian oblasts – as some allege – then this should have had a
profound impact on statistics of the “receiving” oblasts.
196. However the “Crimea-related” migration situation in the Nikolaev and Kherson Oblasts which
are next to Crimea remained unchanged. As of year-end 2014, a regular number of 14.5 thousand
people arrived in the Nikolaev Oblast from various regions, and a regular number of 13.9 thousand
people left that oblast. In 2015, 14 thousand people arrived in that oblast and 13.8 thousand people
left it. This information can be easily compared with the previous five years when an annual average
of 14.3 thousand people arrived in that oblast and an annual average of 15.4 thousand people left it
between 2009 and 2013. Besides, the migration situation in the Kherson Oblast barely changed: in
2014, 13.4 thousand people arrived in that oblast to settle there permanently and 14.3 thousand left
it; in 2015, 12.7 thousand people arrived and 13 thousand people left it. In the previous five years, an
annual average of 13.9 thousand people arrived in that oblast to settle there permanently and an annual
average of 15.5 thousand people left it.182
197. As the migration balance within a country – less international migration – should be equal to
zero, as of year-end 2015, this balance was not equal to zero in Ukraine but was +4,983 people, and
it is this figure that should be taken as a proportion of people who arrived and people who left as part
of the migration exchange with territories not covered by Ukrainian statistics, i.e. the Donetsk and
Lugansk Oblasts where the self-proclaimed republics are, and with Crimea and Sevastopol.
Obviously, an increase in migration that does not exceed 5 thousand people is not indicative of any
large-scale relocation of people since the Lugansk Oblast alone (before the military conflict) had a
181 Federal Service of State Statistics of the Russian Federation, Results of the Population Census of 2014 in the Crimean
Federal District, 2015 (Annex 440), pp. 215-216.
182 See official statistical data of Ukraine for 2010–2018 years at: State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Demographic
yearbook ‘Population of Ukraine’”, available at: https://ukrstat.org/uk/druk/publicat/Arhiv_u/13/Arch_nasel_zb.htm.
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80
negative internal migration balance of 3–4 thousand people, with the same situation happening in the
Donetsk Oblast.183 Certainly, people from Crimea and Sevastopol did not play a key role in this
insignificant increase in immigration in Ukraine.
198. In the previous year (2014), the “non-zero” internal migration balance in Ukraine was even
lower – 1.5 thousand people, whereas between 2016 and 2019 it had an annual figure of 3.4 thousand
people.184 The total accumulation of the “non-zero” internal migration balance in Ukraine over 6
years (from 2014 to 2019) was 20 thousand people. This is a trifling figure because in the previous
peaceful years this accumulation was accomplished two times faster in the Donetsk and Lugansk
Oblasts alone.185 It should be also noted that the “non-zero” internal migration balance includes
double counting since some people could have moved several times within those six years.
199. It is also necessary to stress that the demographic composition of migrants who make up the
“non-zero” internal migration balance in Ukraine is typical of regular, not forced relocations. If
migration were forced in nature, or if actual refugees accounted for a significant portion,186 then in
this case the demographic composition of resettlers would include many children187 and elderly
people. However this is not the case. As at year-end 2015, children aged 14 and younger accounted
only for a 2% internal migration increase in Ukraine, whereas elderly people aged 60 and older
accounted for 9%. Meanwhile, people of student age (15–19 years which is the age when people enrol
at secondary and higher professional educational institutions) accounted for more than a quarter
(28.5%) of the internal migration increase, and fully fit for employment people aged 25–59 accounted
for more than 60%.188 It is also known that in the case of forced migrations, the proportion of women
increases in the composition of migrants, all the more so as the number of women in Ukraine
invariably exceeds that of men.189 However, in the period in question, the internal migration increase
in Ukraine was regular and included mostly men accounting for 62%, with a regular 59% of men
among fully fit for employment people.190
183 See annual updated information of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine on internal migration for 2015–2016 years
at: State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Migration of the Population”, available at:
https://ukrstat.org/uk/operativ/operativ2015/ds/mr/mr_r/arh_mr2015_r.html;
https://ukrstat.org/uk/operativ/operativ2016/ds/mr/mr_r/arh_mr2016_r.html.
184 See annual updated information of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine on internal migration in State Statistics
Service of Ukraine, “Migration of Population by Type of Locality in 2002–2019” (Annex 759).
185 This balance was accumulated in the Donetsk and Lugansk Oblasts in three years from 2010 to 2012. See updated
information of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine on internal migration for 2010, 2011, 2012 in State Statistics Service
of Ukraine, “Information on internal migration for 2010” (Annex 760); State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “nformation
on internal migration for 2011” (Annex 761); State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Information on internal migration for
2012” (Annex 762).
186 These include persons who – from the point of view of the government and registration authorities – cannot be
recognised as refugees because of their original place of residence.
187 E.g. children comprise 23% of the people that have the status of refugees in Ukraine as the beginning of 2016. See
State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2015. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2016 (Annex 794),
p. 114.
188 State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2015. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2016 (Annex
794), p. 103.
189 Women comprised 53.8% of the Ukrainian population in 2010–2015, with this figure being 53.7% in 2015. See State
Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2015. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2016 (Annex 794), p.
116.
190 State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2015. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2016 (Annex
794), p. 103.
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81
200. When it comes to persons recognised as refugees in Ukraine, only 2.5 thousand people had
such status in the country as at year-end 2015. Furthermore, this figure includes all people who arrived
there at some time (in previous years) and had the status of refugees (were not deprived of it) as at a
specific date. Their number was generally the same as in previous years.191 As at the beginning of
2018, the number of refugees was basically the same – 2.4 thousand people, 192 as at the beginning
of 2019 – 1.8 thousand people.193 People from Afghanistan account for more than half of the total
number of refugees in Ukraine, and there are some people from the Middle East and Transcaucasia.
As at the beginning of 2015, there are only 94 people (3.7% of all refugees) who are refugees from
Russia, as at the beginning of 2016 – 102 people (4.1% of this group).194 As at the beginning of 2019,
Ukraine had in its territory 113 refugees from Russia.
201. Therefore, there were no large-scale relocations to Ukraine as a result of migration from
Crimea in 2014–2015 and in the following years, all the more so as there were no notable forced
migrations from that region. There was no increase in the inflow of international refugees into
Ukraine either, and their total number remained low as in previous years.
191 State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2013. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2014 (Annex
786), p. 282.
192 State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2017. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2018 (Annex
797), p. 132.
193 State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2018. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2019 (Annex
800), p. 182.
194 E.g. children comprise 23% of the people that have the status of refugees in Ukraine as the beginning of 2016. See
State Statistics Service of Ukraine, “Population of Ukraine for 2015. Demographic Yearbook”, Kiev, 2016 (Annex 794),
p. 114.
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82
ADDENDUM 3
Table 1. Repatriation of Crimean Tatars to Crimea (arrivals by year based on passport control data)195
Year 000’ people
1988 38.3
1989 32.2
1990 38.8
1991 41.4
1992 27.6
1993 19.3
1994 10.8
1995 9.2
1996 8.1
1997 5.3
1998 3.4
1999 2.4
2000 2.1
2001 2.2
2002 2.0
2003 1.9
2004 2.1
2005 2.1
2006 1.7
2007 1.8
2008 1.4
2009 2.4
2010 0.9
2011 0.8
2012 1.3
2013 0.9
Table 2. Migration balance in the Republic of Crimea: illustration of a small outflow to and a massive
inflow from these countries (2014–2018)196
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Migration: total +16,389 +16,297 +11,091 +8,276 +4,781
interregional within Russia +8,557 -1,044 +1,131 +1,136 +1,630
from/to the CIS states +7,656 +16,699 +9,177 +6,890 +2,868
from/to other foreign countries +176 +642 +783 +250 +283
195 V.A. Tishkov, A.N. Manuilov, V.V. Stepanov, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in the Crimean Federal
District. Expert Report for the First Half of 2015”, Moscow–Simferopol: Antikva LLC, 2015 (Annex 1194), p. 24.
196 T.A. Senyushkina, V.V. Stepanov, R.A. Starchenko, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in Crimea. Expert
Report for 2018”, Moscow-Simferopol. ARIAL Publishing and Printing House, 2019 (Annex 1207), p. 19.
Annex 21
83
Table 3. Migration balance in Sevastopol: illustration of a small outflow to and a massive inflow from
these countries 197
January – April 2018 January – April 2017
Outflow
Inflow Outflow Balance Inflow Outflow Balance
Migration, total
(people) 6,081 3,737 +2,344 5,968 3,053 +2,915
within Russia 4,994 3,439 +1,555 4,762 2,837 +1,925
- intraregional 1,570 1,570 -- 1,258 1,258 --
- interregional 3,424 1,869 +1,555 3,504 1,579 +1,925
international 1,087 298 +789 1,206 216 +990
- from/to the CIS
states 1,067 294 +773 1,177 206 +971
- from/to other
countries 20 4 +16 29 10 +19
The 2013 and 2014 opinion polls into linguistic competencies and regional identity of the Crimean
population were conducted by the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy
of Sciences in Simferopol and its suburbs. The opinion poll was sampled using a quota principle and
based on the 2001 all-Ukrainian census data with due regard to the population distribution in the
peninsula’s administrative centre by ethnic identity, gender and age. Given that in Simferopol
Crimean Tatars accounted for only 7%, an additional quota was allocated to bring the number of
Crimean Tatar respondents to a level acceptable for correct analysis. The sampled population totalled
547 and 681 people in May 2013 and May-June 2014, respectively.
Table 4. To what extent do you trust the Russian mass media? (as %) (May 2014)198
Russians Ukrainians Crimean Tatars
Trust 47 21 19
Mostly trust 33 15 21
Mostly do not trust 11 31 20
Do not trust 6 26 29
No answer 3 7 11
Table 5. To what extent do you trust the Ukrainian mass media? (May 2014)199
Russians Ukrainians Crimean Tatars
Trust 2 29 10
Mostly trust 11 27 32
Mostly do not trust 39 23 40
Do not trust 40 15 18
No answer 8 6 0
197 T.A. Senyushkina, V.V. Stepanov, R.A. Starchenko, “Inter-ethnic Relations and Religious Situation in Crimea. Expert
Report for the first half of 2018”, Moscow-Simferopol, ARIAL Publishing and Printing House, 2018 (Annex 1205), p.
43.
198 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of
Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), p. 84.
199 Id., p. 85.
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84
The 2016 opinion poll in Simferopol and its suburbs. Respondents were sampled by a random
selection of territorial routes and a random selection of respondents in them. The opinion poll covered
more than 600 adult respondents (aged 18 and above).
Table 6. The 2016 opinion poll in Simferopol and its suburbs: Today Crimea has three official
languages: Russian, Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar. How do you feel about this: support / do not
support / have no preference?200
Russians, % Ukrainians, % Crimean Tatars, %
Support 71.5 95.2 86.3
Do not support 9.4 1.6 3.8
No preference 16.1 1.6 7.5
Other 0.9 0,0 2.5
Not sure 2.1 1.6 0.0
Table 7. The 2016 opinion poll in Simferopol and its suburbs: What is your native language?
If more than one, specify.201
Russians, % Ukrainians % Crimean Tatars, %
Native languages:
Russian 92.5 27.0 1.3
Ukrainian 0.2 23.8
Crimean Tatar 71.3
Russian, Ukrainian 6.3 49.2
Russian, Crimean
Tatar 0.2 20.0
Ukrainian, Crimean
Tatar 2.5
Russian, Ukrainian,
Crimean Tatar 2.5
Russian, Ukrainian,
German 1.3
Other language(s) 0.2 1.3
Not sure 0.5
The 2016 opinion poll among students’ parents conducted by the Institute of Ethnology and
Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the Crimean cities of Bakhchisaray, Belogorsk,
Evpatoria, Sevastopol, and Simferopol. The opinion poll covered 400 people.
Table 8. Respondents by Place of Residence202
Russians,
% of respondents
Crimean Tatars,
% of respondents
Ukrainians,
% of respondents
Bakhchisaray 16.08 52.38 17.39
Belogorsk 12.94 17.46 21.74
Evpatoria 13.73 9.52 13.04
Sevastopol 30.98 3.17 17.39
Simferopol 26.27 17.46 30.43
200 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, “Ethnic and Ethno-Political Map of Crimea. Organisation of
Monitoring and Early Warning of Ethnic and Religious Conflicts”, Moscow: the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2017 (Annex 1204), p. 115.
201 Id., p. 116.
202 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, V.Ya. Tishkov, “Languages, Cultures, and Education in Crimea. Fields
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: “Letny Sad”, 2016 (Annex 1166), p. 43.
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85
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
Table 9. What language(s) do your children study at school?203
Respondents, %
1). None but Russian 12.00
2). Russian and other languages 87.50
3). Other 0.50
Respondents 100.00
Table 10. My children study the Crimean Tatar language204.
Respondents, %
[Do not study] 87.75
Crimean Tatar 12.25
Respondents 100.00
Table 11. My children study the Ukrainian language205
Respondents, %
[Do not study] 92.00
Ukrainian 8.00
Respondents 100.00
Table 12. What national language would you like your child to learn?206 [National languages in
Crimea include Russian, Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, and other languages of local ethnic communities]
Respondents, %
1). No national language is needed unless it is native 7.75
2). Just an orientation course in a national language 12.25
3). Standard course in a national language 38.50
4). Advanced course in a national language 26.25
5). All subjects (including mathematics, history, etc.) are taught
in a native language 13.00
6). Your option 2.25
Respondents 100.00
Table 13. What national language have you chosen for your child to learn?207
Russians,
% of respondents
Crimean Tatars,
% of respondents
Ukrainians,
% of respondents
1). No national language is
needed unless it is native 10.98
2). Just an orientation course in a
national language 12.94 1.59 21.74
3). Standard course in a national
language 35.29 39.68 56.52
203 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, V.Ya. Tishkov, “Languages, Cultures, and Education in Crimea. Fields
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: “Letny Sad”, 2016 (Annex 1166), p. 14.
204 Ibid.
205 Ibid.
206 Id., p. 15.
207 Id., p. 43.
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4). Advanced course in a national
language 23.14 55.56 8.70
5). All subjects (including
mathematics, history, etc.) are
taught in a native language
15.29 3.17 13.04
6). Your option 2.35
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
Table 14. What national language would you like your child to learn? 208
Russian as a native language
% of respondents
1). No national language is needed unless it is native 9.83
2). Just an orientation course in a national language 12.88
3). Standard course in a national language 38.98
4). Advanced course in a national language 20.68
5). All subjects (including mathematics, history, etc.) are taught in a native
language 15.25
6). Your option 2.37
Respondents 100.00
Crimean Tatar as a native
language
% of respondents
2). Just an orientation course in a national language 1.45
3). Standard course in a national language 39.13
4). Advanced course in a national language 56.52
5). All subjects (including mathematics, history, etc.) are taught in a native
language 2.90
Respondents 100.00
Ukrainian as a native
language
% of respondents
2). Just an orientation course in a national language 20.00
3). Standard course in a national language 35.00
4). Advanced course in a national language 15.00
5). All subjects (including mathematics, history, etc.) are taught in a native
language 20.00
6). Your option 10.00
Respondents 100.00
Table 15. Students’ parents: Do you use any language other than Russian when communicating with
your family, friends, and acquaintances?209
Respondents, %
1). Yes 30.50
2). No 69.50
Respondents 100.00
208 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, V.Ya. Tishkov, “Languages, Cultures, and Education in Crimea. Fields
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: “Letny Sad”, 2016 (Annex 1166), pp. 48-49.
209 Id., p. 16.
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Table 16. Students’ parents: What language other than Russian do you use?210
Respondents, %
[None] 69.50
Crimean Tatar 17.00
Ukrainian 8.00
English 1.50
Hebrew 0.75
German 0.75
Tatar 0.75
Armenian 0.50
Abkhazian 0.25
Greek 0.25
Crimean Tatar, Ukrainian 0.25
Latvian 0.25
Ukrainian, English 0.25
Respondents 100.00
Table 17. Students’ parents: Do you use any language other than Russian when communicating with
your family and friends? 211
Russians,
% of respondents
Crimean Tatars,
% of respondents
Ukrainians,
% of respondents
1). Yes 11.76 93.65 30.43
2). No 88.24 6.35 69.57
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
Table 18. Students’ parents: Do you use any language other than Russian when communicating with
your family, friends, and acquaintances? 212
Russian as a native
language,
% of respondents
Crimean Tatar as a
native language,
% of respondents
Ukrainian as a
native language,
% of respondents
1). Yes 11.86 94.20 65.00
2). No 88.14 5,80 35.00
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
Table 19. Students’ parents: What is/are you native language(s)?213
Respondents, %
Russian 73.75
Crimean Tatar 17.25
Ukrainian 5.00
Armenian 1.25
Tatar 0,50
210 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, V.Ya. Tishkov, “Languages, Cultures, and Education in Crimea. Fields
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: “Letny Sad”, 2016 (Annex 1166), p. 17.
211 Id., p. 45.
212 Id., p. 52.
213 Id., p. 17.
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Georgian 0.25
Hebrew 0.25
Latin 0.25
Latvian 0.25
Turkish 0.25
[Not specified] 1.00
Respondents 100.00
Table 20. Students’ parents: What is/are you native language(s)? 214
Russians,
% of
respondents
Crimean Tatars,
% of
respondents
Ukrainians,
% of
respondents
[Not specified] 1.18
Armenian 0.39
Crimean Tatar 96.83
Russian 97.25 3.17 47.83
Ukrainian 1,18 52.17
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
Table 21. Students’ parents: Second native language215
Russians,
% of
respondents
Crimean Tatars,
% of
respondents
Ukrainians,
% of
respondents
[no second native
language] 91.76 90.48 78.26
English 0.39
Armenian 0.39
Moldavian 0.39
Crimean Tatar 1.59
Russian 0.39 6.35 8.70
Ukrainian 6.67 1.59 13.04
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
Table 22. Students’ parents: If you DO NOT use you native language for communications with people
around you, what is the reason behind this? 216
Respondents, %
1). Have no or poor command of my native language 3.00
2). People around me do not speak my native language 8.00
3). Feel embarrassed speaking my native language 1.75
4). No problem, I speak one language with people around me 86.50
5). Other 1,75
Respondents 100.00
Table 23. Students’ parents: How do you want people to treat you in everyday life: as a Russian
citizen or as a representative of a specific ethnic group or as a resident of a specific region? 217
214 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, V.Ya. Tishkov, “Languages, Cultures, and Education in Crimea. Fields
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: “Letny Sad”, 2016 (Annex 1166), p. 45.
215 Id., p. 46.
216 Id., p. 18.
217 Ibid.
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Respondents, %
1). As a Russian citizen 75.25
2). As a representative of a specific ethnic group 9.00
3). As a resident of a specific region 17.75
4). Other 3,25
5). Not sure 7.25
Respondents 100.00
Table 24. Students’ parents: How do you want people to treat you in everyday life, as a Russian
citizen or as a representative of a specific ethnic group or as a resident of a specific region?218
Russians,
% of respondents
Crimean Tatars,
% of respondents
Ukrainians,
% of respondents
1). As a citizen 85.88 53.97 56.52
2). As a representative of a specific
ethnic group 4.31 22.22 13.04
3). As a resident of a specific region 17.25 15.87 21.74
4). Other 2.35 7.94
5). Not sure 3.92 12.70 17.39
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
Table 25. Students’ parents: Over the past year, have you encountered any negative attitude toward
you because of the language you speak, or your ethnic or religious background?
Respondents, %
1). Yes, because of my language 1.75
2). Yes, because of my ethnic background 5.25
3). Yes, because of my religion 4.25
4). No negative attitude 90.00
5). Other 0.75
6). Not sure 0.25
Respondents 100.00
Table 26. Students’ parents: Over the past year, have you encountered any negative attitude toward
you because of the language you speak, or your ethnic or religious background? 219
Russians,
% of respondents
Crimean Tatars,
% of respondents
Ukrainians,
% of respondents
1). Yes, because of my language 0.78 4.76
2). Yes, because of my ethnic
background 0.39 20.63 4.35
3). Yes, because of my religion 2.75 9.52
4). No negative attitude 95.69 76.19 95.65
5). Other 0.78
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
Table 27. Students’ parents: (optional): what is your nationality? 220
218 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, V.Ya. Tishkov, “Languages, Cultures, and Education in Crimea. Fields
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: “Letny Sad”, 2016 (Annex 1166), p. 46.
219 Id., p. 47.
220 Id., p. 20.
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Respondents, %
Russians 63.75
Crimean Tatars 15,75
Ukrainians 5.75
Armenians 1.00
Chechens 0.75
Jews 0.50
Belarusians 0.25
Karaite people 0.25
Crimean people 0.25
Latvians 0.25
Tatars 0.25
[No answer] 11.25
Respondents 100.00
Table 28. Students’ parents: specify your second nationality, if any221.
Respondents, %
[No second nationality, including those who have declined to
answer] 82.75
Ukrainians 10.50
Russians 3.00
Greeks 1.00
Armenians 0.50
Crimean Tatars 0.50
Tatars 0.50
Belarusians 0.25
Bulgarians 0.25
Jews 0.25
Kirghiz people 0.25
Chuvash people 0.25
Respondents 100.00
Table 29. Students’ parents: unless Crimea is your place of birth, where have you come from to
Crimea?222
Respondents, %
1). Resident since birth 60.00
2). Russian regions 13.00
3). Other state including the former USSR republics 27.00
Respondents 100.00
Table 30. Students’ parents: unless Crimea is your place of birth, where have you come from to
Crimea?223
221 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, V.Ya. Tishkov, “Languages, Cultures, and Education in Crimea. Fields
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: “Letny Sad”, 2016 (Annex 1166), p. 21.
222 Id., p. 22.
223 Id., p. 47.
Russians, Crimean Tatars, Ukrainians,
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Table 31. Students’ parents: where have you come from to Crimea for permanent residence? 224
Respondents, %
[Resident in Crimea since birth] 60.00
Uzbekistan 13.00
Russia 11.25
Ukraine 8.25
Armenia 1.25
Latvia 0.75
Tajikistan 0.75
Belorussia 0.50
Kazakhstan 0.50
Kirghizia 0.50
Madagascar 0.25
Turkey 0.25
Estonia 0.25
Not specified 2.50
Respondents 100
224 V.Yu. Zorin, R.A. Starchenko, V.V. Stepanov, V.Ya. Tishkov, “Languages, Cultures, and Education in Crimea. Fields
Ethnostatistics”, Moscow: “Letny Sad”, 2016 (Annex 1166), p. 22.
% of
respondents
% of
respondents
% of
respondents
1). Resident since birth 72.16 19.05 56.52
2). Russian regions 15.69 4.76
3). Other state including the former
USSR republics 12.16 76.19 43.8
Respondents 100.00 100.00 100.00
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ADDENDUM 4
1. Curriculum vitae of Dmitry Anatolyevich Funk
Dmitry FUNK, Professor of Anthropology, Doctor of Historical Sciences
I. Personal data
Dmitry Anatolyevich FUNK
Born on 21 June 1962 in Kemerovo (Siberia), USSR
E-mail: [email protected]
o Director, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of
Sciences
http://www.iea-ras.ru/index.php?go=Structure&in=view&id=35
o Editor-in-Chief, “Siberian Historical Research”
http://journals.tsu.ru/siberia/en/
II. Professional background
Employment:
July 2019 – present: Director, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian
Academy of Sciences
November 2013 – June 2020: Professor and Chair, Department of Ethnology, Moscow
State University
1995 – October 2013: Head, Department of Northern and Siberian Studies, Institute of
Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
1993-1995: Researcher, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of
Sciences, Moscow
1992: Senior Researcher, Omsk branch, Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of
Sciences
1990-1991: Senior Librarian, Library of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR,
Leningrad/Saint Petersburg.
Professional activities (as an expert/advisor):
2013–2017: PI, mega-grants program of the Russian Federation (head of a project at the
Tomsk State University)
2013: expert, Exxon Neftegas Ltd.; “Indigenous Peoples of the Sakhalin Island
(Anthropological Survey)”
2002 and 2009: expert of the Ministry of Nationalities of the Russian Federation and the
Altai Republic Government “El-Qurultay” in connection with the forthcoming сensuses
of the Russian Federation
2005-2007: expert, bp; co-author of Indigenous Peoples’ Policy, expert, Russian State
Duma;
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2005-2006: member of a working group engaged in the elaboration of an all-Russian law
on the rules of social impact assessment,
1999-present: member of the Scientific Council for thesis defence, Institute of Ethnology
and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
1991-1993: expert on national issues, “Rubin” Ltd., Kemerovo District
III. Scientific interests
• Social and economic transformations, adaptations, and sustainable development, (ethnic)
identities and social structures,
• Anthropology of religion, especially inter-ethnic connections/influences in Shamanism,
Islam, Buddhism, and neo-religious movements,
• Cultural heritage, especially epic studies, field linguistics, electronic text corpora and
endangered languages/archives,
• Principles and methods of evaluation of ethno-social impact of administrative policies on the
local communities/cultures,
• History of ideas in ethnology/folkloristic (with special interest in Asian studies).
IV. Language abilities
Russian – native,
German – fluent (DSH, certified by DAF-dept. at University of Cologne; experience in giving
lectures in German, as well as in interpretation and translation),
English – fluent (Advanced level, BKC-ih; experience in giving lectures in English, as well as in
interpretation and translation),
Shor and Teleut languages, and related dialects (Turkic languages) – fluent (experience in
teaching, interpretation and/or translation),
Kazakh and Turkish – reading,
Hungarian – basic (ECTS Grade – A; certified by International Studies Center at University of Pecs),
Uilta (Orok) – basic
2. Curriculum vitae of Roman Alexandrovich Starchenko
Roman Alexandrovich Starchenko
I. Personal data
Roman Alexadrovich STARCHENKO
Born on 8 July 1987 in Ryazan, USSR
E-mail: [email protected]
o Deputy Director, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian
Academy of Sciences
https://iea-ras.ru/index.php?go=Structure&in=view&id=36
II. Professional background
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Employment:
2019 – present: Deputy Director, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian
Academy of Sciences
2018 – 2019: Director, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of
Sciences
2015 – 2019: Deputy Director, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian
Academy of Sciences
2015: Researcher, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of
Sciences
2014 – 2015: Junior Researcher, Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian
Academy of Sciences
Professional activities (as an expert/advisor):
2019-2020, grants program of the Russian Foundation for basic research, “Modern youth
in the ethno-regional perspective: socio-demographic and ethno-cultural orientations (as
exemplified by Armenia and Russia)”
2015-2017, grants program of the Russian Foundation for basic research, “Language
policy in Crimea. retrospect and prospect”
2015, grants program of the Russian Foundation for basic research, “Comparative survey
of regional identities as a part of the system of individual and group identities (as
exemplified by the inhabitants of Crimea and Transdniestr)”
2014, grants program of the Russian Foundation for basic research, “Meanings of regional
identity: reality, manifestation and marginality (experiencing identities: Crimea and
Transdniestr)”
2013, grants program of the Russian Foundation for basic research, ”Formation and
development of the language situation among the Russian population of Crimea”.
III. Scientific interests
- Ethnopolitical situation in Crimea, ethnological monitoring and early conflict prevention;
- Inter-ethnic relations, identity, youth policy, ethnic policy;
- Language behaviour, language policy, language situation, state languages, national languages,
minority languages, bilingualism;
- Civil identity, ethnic identity, inter-ethnic relations, Russian nation, ethno-cultural education.
IV. Language abilities
Russian – native
English – basic
German – basic
Ukrainian – basic
3. Curriculum vitae of Valery Vladimirovich Stepanov
Valery Stepanov works as a researcher in the Centre for Ethnic Policy Studies of the Institute of
Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He also is a member of the
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95
independent scientific network EWARN which focuses on applied and monitoring studies in
ethnicities.
Dr Stepanov has authored more than 400 scientific articles and many books devoted to the issues of
cultural diversity in modern post-Soviet states; census population processes in measuring ethnic,
linguistic and cultural identity; cultural problems of migrations and population mobility; urbanisation,
and the resulting mixing and blurring of cultural boundaries in Russia and in countries of the former
Soviet Union; cases on identity debates and discourse in multiculturalism and migrancy; regional
patterns of inter-ethnic contestation and conflict in the former USSR. Dr Stepanov has a multi-year
experience in applied and policy-oriented studies in these fields.
Dr Stepanov received a degree of Candidate of Ethnology from the Institute of Ethnology and
Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (1991) and was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the
Ethnic-Social and Demography Laboratory of the Institute of Ethnic Problems in Education of the
Ministry of General Education of the Russian Federation, Moscow.
4. Curriculum vitae of Sergey Valeryevich Sokolovsky
Sergey Valeryevich Sokolovsky, D. Sci. (ethnology and anthropology); from 1995 to date, principal
research associate at the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of
Sciences; from 2004 to date, editor-in-chief of the Russian academic journal Ethnographic Review;
from 2012 to date, independent expert at the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance of
the Council of Europe, anthropologist, specialist in minorities and indigenous peoples rights, author
of a number of monographs on this topic, including The Rights of Minorities: Anthropological,
Sociological, and International Law Aspects (Moscow: Moscow Public Science Foundation, 1997.
217 p. Series: Scientific Reports); Images of the Others in Russian Science, Political Science, and
Law (Moscow: Put’, 2001. 235 p. Series: Critica Antropologiae); On Perspectives of Ethno-National
Policy Concept in the Russian Federation (Moscow: TACIS, 2004. 258 p. Series: Cooperation
Programmes of the European Union in Russia – TACIS); The European Charter for Regional or
Minority Languages in the Russian Federation (published in English and Russian; Moscow: TACIS,
2012. 140 p. + 1,318 p. on a compact disc); Recognition Policy for Indigenous Peoples in
International and Russian Law (Moscow: Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian
Academy of Sciences, 2016. 64 p.); co-author of the article collection Legal Regulation Problems of
Interethnic Relations and Anti-Discriminatory Law in the Russian Federation (Moscow: TACIS,
2004), and others. Besides, he was involved as an expert in the development of the toolkit for the All-
Russian Censuses of 2002 and 2010 and in the preparation of census data on ethnic identity and
language proficiency for the census results publication. He has authored a significant number of
research papers on language policy and ethnic identification and edited collective monographs
Language Policy, Conflicts and Concord (Moscow: Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, 2018. 350 p.); Us and Them: Identity Transformation in the East and
West of Europe (Moscow: Telekom, 2018. 344 p.); Does the Death of a Language Result in the Death
of a People? Linguistic Situations and Linguistic Rights in Russia and Neighbouring States (Moscow:
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Goryachaya Liniya – Telekom, 2020. 260 p.), and others225, the monographs Mennonites of Altai.
History, Demography, Onomastics. /Moscow: Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, 1996. 256 p./; Kryashens in the All-Russian Census of 2002 /Moscow:
Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2004. 247 p./ and a
series of articles related to the categorisation and ethnic identification of different population groups.
Correspondence address: Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, Russian Federation, 119991, Moscow, 32A Leninsky pr., office 1807. To: Sergei V.
Sokolovsky, e-mail: [email protected]
225 The author’s publications relating to the subject-matter of this Expert Report may be found in Russian at: https://iearas.
academia.edu/SSokolovskiy/.
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Volume I - Annexes 1-21