3 May 2014

Around 5,000 Crimean Tatars gathered at the Crimea-Ukraine border in support of Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev, who is being denied entry into Crimea. There were reports of busloads of ‘green men’ and Berkut forces being sent to the location, and clashes were feared. However none occurred.

On April 22^nd Dzhemilev was given a document saying that he was banned from Crimea for the next five years (forced into exile). The following day, high-ranking officials in both Russia and Crimea publicly claimed that the document presented to Mustafa Dzhemilev had been a fake. Today, when Dzhemilev tried to re-enter Crimea it was clear that the ban was intended seriously. It is, a clear and violence message from the Russian Federation to Mustafa Dzhemilev and the entire Crimean Tatar people, and a violation of Dzhemilev’s rights. 

Some Crimeans who have crossed border to meet Dzhemilev where reported to also have difficulties entering back into Crimea.

 By the end of the day, Dzhemilev returned to Kyiv after urging the thousands who had gathered to see him home, to behave calmly and to avoid bloodshed (the Crimean Tatar national movement has always been based on non-violence and democratic means). Dzhemilev told the Crimea Tatar population not to give up and that it’s worth continuing to fight against the current regime.

The five observers from the OSCE  - along with five of their Ukrainian assistants - were freed today. The separatists' leader in Slovyansk, V. Ponomarev, was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying he ordered the release because of increasing insecurity in the city. It is unclear exactly what particular factors led to their release, but they were released without conditions.

Yesterday’s fire in Odessa, where 43 people died, is under investigation. Yesterday’s events have sparked harsh criticism of both the Kyiv and Russian governments. Many Odessians feel betrayed by Ukraine and ‘used’ by Russia.