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Crimean authorities may ban Mejilis — Crimean vice-premier

Crimean Tatar rights activists Refat Chubarov and Mustafa Dzhemilev were banned from entering Russia for five years
Mejilis leaders Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov  ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin
Mejilis leaders Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov
© ITAR-TASS/Maxim Nikitin

SIMFEROPOL, October 23 /TASS/. Crimean Tatars complain about the activities of a Mejilis, which has not been registered according to Russian laws, Crimea’s Vice-Premier Ruslan Balbek told TASS.

"We have been receiving many complaints from Crimean Tatars and from public organization. The Crimean Tatars themselves are asking us to ban this organization in the territory of Russia," Balbek said noting that the Mejilis of the Crimean Tatar People had lost its influence on Crimean Tatars.

He did not rule out that Mejilis might be banned. "Such a ban is possible under the existing laws given the activities of Crimean Tatars, their civil institutions and religious organizations," Balbek stressed.

Crimea’s vice-premier said that activists headed by Mejilis leaders Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov had imposed a blockade on Crimea alongside with Ukraine’s Right Sector extremist movement. They prevent transport with Ukrainian cargoes to enter the territory of Russia. "They have shown their true worth by their deeds and have stripped away all disguises," Balbek stressed.

Court has banned Chubarov and Dzhemilev from entering Russia for five years. Chubarov is also being prosecuted for encroaching on Russia’s territorial integrity. The Mejilis, which they are heading, has not been registered according to Russian laws.