Maintaining control over Crimea is Putin's way of saving his own skin - Chubarov

He said this on Espreso TV. 

“Many experts have already reacted in the same way to Putin's visit to Crimea, saying that 'a creature that vaguely resembles Putin appeared in Sevastopol, accompanied by a local gauleiter, Rozvazhayev.' Indeed, we do not know whether this is a double or he himself arrived, but it is clear why this is being done. Until recently, it was assumed that Putin would participate in some events via video link, but it seems to me that after yesterday's warrant of the International Criminal Court for Putin's arrest, he had to go out in public,” the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people said. 

Refat Chubarov noted that Putin's entire ideology and influence are built on the return of sacred lands, and it started with Crimea as a return of territory. That is, the entire Russian-Ukrainian war is built on those false messages.

“Putin realizes that maintaining control over Crimea is a matter of saving his life. And as soon as the liberation of Crimea begins or when the Ukrainian Armed Forces approach the administrative border, and the liberation is inevitable, disintegration processes will begin in Russia itself. And for Putin, the loss of Crimea is the ultimate catastrophe, but he is still trying to save the situation, but it is no longer possible. And this is a very big challenge for the Russian Federation. In addition, we can't predict everything that will happen to this state,” Chubarov summarized.

• On March 18, Putin arrived in occupied Crimea.

• Refat Chubarov also noted that in connection with Putin's visit to Crimea, all units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol were put on maximum alert.