Espreso. Global

“Putin's aggression against Crimea is a threat to the whole civilization” — Mustafa Dzhemilev

28 January, 2025 Tuesday
17:00

Mustafa Dzhemilev, the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, believes that Russia's occupation of Crimea is not only a tragedy for his people but also a significant threat to the global order. According to him, allowing the continued legitimization of Crimea's annexation could trigger a global crisis, discrediting of international guarantees and "the defeat of the civilized world before barbarism"

client/title.list_title

In an interview on Mykola Kniazhytskyi's YouTube channel, Mustafa Dzhemilev stated that Crimean Tatars cannot accept Crimea's occupation, as it represents the loss of their identity. 

 “For the Crimean Tatars, leaving Crimea under occupation would mean the end of their people. Many would emigrate – already, as of today, 30,000 Crimean Tatars have left… Those who remain, particularly the younger generation, risk gradual Russification, leading to the loss of their national identity,” he said.

Dzhemilev emphasized that the issue of Crimea concerns not only the Crimean Tatars, but also the entire international community. “It’s about accepting this kind of international banditry and standing by to witness it. The rationale of ‘this is a powerful country, so let us agree to avoid escalating the war’ delivers a devastating blow to the global order… Overall, it would be a huge defeat for the civilized world in the face of barbarism. No country, no people would have any guarantees,” he added.

The leader of the Crimean Tatars also drew attention to the fact that Russia's actions jeopardize the stability of the whole world. “This leads directly to an arms race and the proliferation of nuclear weapons… In essence, international institutions are failing. In my view, this is humanity's greatest tragedy,” said Dzhemilev.

He emphasized that Crimean Tatars continue to fight for their right to live on their native land, but staying under occupation means submitting to repression. “Not bowing your head comes with great risks. In general, even staying silent can be dangerous. I observe businessmen, and simply staying out of politics and focusing on your work is not enough to avoid trouble. You are expected to take the microphone and proclaim how fortunate we are to be under occupation,” Dzhemilev said about the situation on the peninsula.

Mustafa Dzhemilev also shared his vision for Russia's future, stating, "Without external control, Russia will not be able to abandon its imperial ideology. Change is only possible after the defeat of this regime, much like it was with Germany after World War II," he concluded.

Dzhemilev believes in the victory of Ukraine and the Crimean Tatars in the struggle for their rights. He emphasized that the time of Putin's regime “is no longer measured in years but in months”.

Background. Mustafa Dzhemilev is the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament, a Soviet dissident, and a former political prisoner. He is a symbol of the fight for human rights and the national identity of the Crimean Tatars, who were deported from Crimea by Soviet authorities in 1944. 

Dzhemilev dedicated his life to defending the rights of his people, enduring seven arrests and years of imprisonment for his human rights activism. His hunger strike in prison, which lasted 303 days, became a powerful protest that drew international attention to the oppression of the Crimean Tatars.

Following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, Mustafa Dzhemilev became one of the leading global voices calling for the de-occupation of the peninsula. Russian authorities banned him from entering Crimea, but this did not halt his struggle. He stresses that the annexation of Crimea poses a threat not only to Ukraine but also to the global order. Dzhemilev continues to serve as a member of the Ukrainian parliament and an international human rights activist, fighting for the rights of the Crimean Tatars and highlighting Russia's crimes against Ukraine.

 

Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Thursday
13 February
11:16
Russian civilians evacuated to Ukraine after Russia’s deadly strike on shelter
10:54
116 clashes occur at front on Feb. 12: Russia launches over 5,000 strikes on Ukraine
10:33
European countries and Ukraine demand a say in any peace talks
10:15
Exclusive
Russian troops attempt to fully sever Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka highway
09:56
U.S. envoy Kellogg to visit Ukraine for “tough diplomacy” — U.S. State Department
09:36
Russia loses 1,250 soldiers, 17 tanks, 58 artillery systems in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Wednesday
12 February
22:00
Russia launches record number of strikes on Donetsk region since war started
21:45
Exclusive
Russian army does not hesitate to drop bombs on its citizens: Ukrainian military on Kursk sector
21:33
Exclusive
How Ukraine shoots down ballistic missiles may remain classified
21:21
F-16 with JASSM-ER, illustrative photo
First F-16 photo during combat mission in Ukraine emerges online — what does it reveal?
21:10
Ukrainian priest in Pennsylvania: Trump himself will decide to stand by Ukraine
21:00
Zelenskyy and Trump hold talks
20:50
Russia blocks IAEA experts' rotation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant – Ukraine's MFA
20:40
Zelenskyy: Work on Trump’s plan to end Ukraine war likely to start in February
20:26
Ukraine wins 16 medals at 2025 Invictus Games
20:11
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, February 5-12
Russia is forced to retreat in some areas of Pokrovsk sector
19:51
UK pledges £150 million in military aid to Ukraine
19:36
“I prayed for Trump's protection at rally before assassination attempt” — Jason Sharron, Ukrainian priest in Pennsylvania
19:25
NATO membership for Ukraine is unrealistic, says U.S. Defense Secretary Hagseth
19:10
Exclusive
Russia training surviving North Korean soldiers to reinforce troops in Kursk region
18:49
NATO must ensure negotiation results that Putin can’t overturn in six months or year – Rutte
18:11
600,000 Ukrainian children trapped in occupied territories: over 40,000 still enrolled in Ukrainian schools
18:00
Interview
Ukrainian Catholic Church priest in Pennsylvania on beauty of Ukrainian traditions and why Trump can be helpful for Ukraine
17:50
Supporting Ukraine is top foreign policy priority — Sweden’s top diplomat
17:32
'Putin will lose if he attacks NATO': Rutte on Russian threat in Europe
17:15
Exclusive
"Much hinges on Kellogg's meeting with Zelenskyy's team" regarding Trump's peace plan — Ukrainian MP
16:51
NATO Secretary General Rutte announces new military aid for Ukraine
16:37
White House power struggle: Trump ally Vitkoff’s Moscow move sparks clash over Ukraine policy
16:15
China assists Russian drone production with smuggled Western parts — Estonian intel
15:53
Zelenskyy says assassination attempts on him led to deaths in President's Office
15:42
Exclusive
European allies to announce new military aid after Ramstein meeting — Espreso correspondent
15:30
Exclusive
Ukraine Russia war live map, February 5-12
February 5-12 live war map: Ukrainian counterattacks yield results 
15:14
Soldier stabbed at Kharkiv recruitment center as Ukraine faces surge in attacks on military personnel
14:55
Updated
Ramstein meeting kicks off in Brussels: Key issues on the agenda
14:54
Russian soldiers seen attempting assault on Ukraine positions on crutches: video
14:32
Ukraine's Security Service uncovers FSB mole within its top ranks
14:15
Leaked video exposes Russian PSYOP: commander admits bombing civilians in Sudzha
13:55
Exclusive
Russia struggles with innovation, lacks time in weapons development — military expert
13:39
Exclusive
Lithium extraction in Ukraine with U.S. partnership may take 5–10 years, expert says
13:14
Wizz Air ready to resume flights with Ukraine within six weeks after ceasefire
More news