Aziza Abliatipova*
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine did not begin in February 2022 but eight years ago, when Russia occupied the Crimean Peninsula. And the residents of Crimea experience the consequences of this occupation every day, regardless of their nationality, religion, financial and social status, and even their attitude towards Russia and its policies.
The occupation can be briefly described as what used to be ordinary, routine and accessible for us. Crimeans have now become at least difficult, but more often impossible, and sometimes forbidden or dangerous. All these negative issues were covered up by financial investments in the peninsula from the Russian budget, which was primarily used to promote “Great Russia”, as well as to develop infrastructure and build housing stock, which was 90% intended for immigrants from Russia and families of arrived Russian military and officials. But with the start of a full-scale war, we understand that there will be no more budgetary investments in the peninsula because all the money goes to war.
We also see that Crimea has lost its primary source of income – tourists. If earlier Crimean resorts were open to tourists from all over the world, and since 2014 – only to Russian tourists, now even a Russian tourist does not want to come to a resort near hostilities. These two factors alone can play a catastrophic role for the local “authorities” and the political elite of Crimea, which is formed from the traitors of Ukraine and the Kremlin’s helpers.
Therefore, it is not surprising that all structures of power in Crimea have rallied for their self-preservation and are taking maximum measures to protect themselves. Thus, law enforcement agencies have been put on high alert, punitive and repressive measures have intensified, especially among the Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians, denunciations against neighbours and acquaintances are being popularized, and conscriptions have become more active among sections of the population, which are unreliable for the “government”. And one of the main links in this chain is the intensification of propaganda about a “great, just and peaceful Russia” that is fighting evil.
Today, Russian propaganda works not only in the media, TV and the Internet; it has intensified in educational institutions, workplaces and entertainment centres. For example, general meetings are held weekly in educational institutions of all levels; separate lessons are allocated to praise Russian politics and justify the war; competitions are held among children with prizes for the best drawing, poem, or essay on the theme “great Russia”. In state and budgetary organizations, employees are forced to make reposts and likes on social networks supporting Russia; otherwise, people may lose their jobs and be registered with law enforcement agencies as unreliable. Posters are hung in the city, in the mall and at public transport stops; horns praise Russian politics and the army.
For eight years, we have watched how Russia turns our beautiful Crimea into a military training ground. According to various sources, there were (concentrated) about 50,000 soldiers in Crimea. With the outbreak of hostilities, Crimea became a military foothold, a kind of military transit point. Residents constantly observe columns of military equipment and soldiers, the rumble of military aircraft, and hospitals and public hospitals overflowing with wounded soldiers. And yet, people admit that they increasingly feel a putrid smell in the areas of railway stations.
All these sad events and actions of the Russian authorities force Crimeans to leave the peninsula and travel outside Russia, especially young men and social activists who disagree with the Kremlin’s policies.
I want to complete this sad write-up of today’s Crimea with bright and positive colours – this is the revived hope of people for the de-occupation of the peninsula, for freedom of speech and thought, and the hope for the normal development of the present and future, the restoration of the history, culture and language of the peoples of Crimea. This hope never died. It was and is in the souls, thoughts, dreams and conversations so far only in family circles.
* Educational Consultancy Corporation Officer at Istanbul Medipol University.
