Crimea sees rising hysteria amid Russia’s economic troubles — Mejlis chief

Refat Chubarov, head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, shared his opinions on Espreso TV.

“The hysteria unfolding in Crimea around assessments of the economic situation is telling: gasoline is already being sold with coupons, utility costs have sharply increased, and prices keep rising.

We know many people who run public pages or participate in discussions. We’ve known them since before. These are die-hard supporters of Putin and the Russian Federation. But even they are beginning to experience some shifts in their thinking. I can’t say it’s a true awakening yet, but there are some glimpses,” Chubarov noted.

The head of the Mejlis stressed that sanctions, and above all the determined resistance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, are pushing Russia toward a state where internal social factors driven by citizens’ own behavior may come into play.

“No, I’m not overly optimistic about the level of awareness within Russian society, but when life becomes completely unbearable, it’s possible, and even likely, that people will change their attitude toward the authorities,” Chubarov added.

• The head of the NGO National Interests Advocacy Network (ANTS) added that even among Kremlin ideologists, awareness is growing of the failure of the so-called “special military operation.” At the same time, an effective blockade of oil exports, particularly in the Baltic Sea, could deliver a devastating blow to Russia’s already weakened economy.