that time and probably the development of democracy and pluralism of opinions. It is possible to list a number of NGOs that have made the criticism of the Majlis the core of their activity: Milli Fırqa, Sebat, Vatandaş, Milliy Hareket Partisı, Generation of Crimea, etc. Some of them are active, others are represented by one person, there are also mythical organizations like “The Crimean Tatars for the Union with Russia.” The last one is actually ridiculous for in the eyes of the mass media: the “leader” of the organization is an old man over seventy; journalists repeatedly demanded the disclosure of this man, tried to find him in Saky raion at the place of its registration – all in vain. In the Crimean mass media opinion, some of these organizations, as for example, Milli Fırqa (National Party), also called “sofa party,” as all its members are placed on the same sofa, were consulted, lobbied and, perhaps, even financed by the Presidential Administration and the ruling Party of Regions of Ukraine. The First Vice-Chairman of the Majlis Refat Çubarov, responding to a question about their attitude to the opposition NGOs, noted that “…it would be strange if all Crimean Tatars thought the same… It is clear that people in opposition always talk about the importance of their mission, role, opportunities of influence. … We have another problem. The problem is that the Crimean Tatar opposition was not able to become the opposition of action, it becomes as “the opposition of voice.” Unfortunately, in the above-mentioned organizations’ activities a constructive idea is extremely small, more often it is just a naked nitpicking. It seems they criticize any actions or decisions of the Crimean Tatar people’s Majlis on principle. Sometimes the opposition organizations’ activities not only provoke indignation among the Crimean Tatars, but also a feeling of contempt for them. It can be recalled the Milli Fırqa’s appeal in 2009, by which they asked the then President of the Russian Federation to protect the Crimean Tatar people “from ongoing genocide on the part of the Ukraine’s nationalist government.” The result shown on the elections to the Parliament of Ukraine is the clear evidence of these organizations’ authority. According to the Brief Analysis of Results of the Elections in Crimea, only 7268 people, which was 0,99% of all Crimean Tatar electors, voted in support of the candidates of the electoral list of the Crimean branch of the Ukrainian Peasant Democratic Party, recommended by the Milli Fırqa. Besides, having a very low trust level among the Crimean Tatars, opposition figures or organizations are not able to get elected to the Qurultay in order to try to influence the situation from the inside.
the crimean tatar civil movement : stages of development
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