THE NATIONAL UNION OF
JOURNALISTS OF UKRAINE
The first deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and released journalist, Nariman Celal [also Nariman Dzhelyal], called on the residents of the annexed Crimea to prepare for the military operation of Ukraine to liberate the peninsula
In an interview with the Krym.Realii website (a Radio Liberty project), journalist Nariman Celal, who was recently released from russian captivity, said: “…I want to appeal to the residents of Crimea: be careful, understand that life there is not normal. And you have to prepare for what will happen. Prepare suitcases, supplies, and any necessary things that will help you in the event of a military operation. Whether it happens or not, be ready for it. Most likely, it will happen. Don’t be fooled; don’t listen to that propaganda that says everything is fine. Not fine! Get ready and wait for what will happen. Well, those who want to act more actively also prepare. This will also be needed.”
According to Nariman Celal, Crimea will be liberated by various means, including military ones. “And you have to be ready. And it should be understood that there will be victims. And therefore, you need to determine for yourself how to act when this military operation begins,” he said.
Celal believes that the biggest challenge for Ukraine after de-occupation will be the return of Crimean residents to the “Ukrainian mental space.” “Many residents of Crimea want to return. There are those who definitely want it. There are those who would like to hear clear answers from the Ukrainian state about what exactly they will do. All this should be discussed and explained so that people are ready for it. But the main message is that “we are glad and want your return; we will help you.” Ukraine should say it,” he said.
On June 28, ten citizens of Ukraine were returned from russian captivity; among them was Nariman Celal.
In an interview, Nariman Celal also talked about his being kept in the same remand prison cell with one of the former activists of the so-called Crimean Spring. Nariman Celal spoke about the time he spent in a russian remand prison cell with Crimean Spring activist Kostiantyn Yermanov.
“The case was very interesting. He was with me for a short time. At first, I had a very strong reluctance to be in the same room with him. But then I said to myself: wait, on the contrary, talk, hear what they say… He once said to me: “Nariman, tell your wife, let her and the children learn English. Because if we get out of here, we have to run to Europe. There will be no normal life in russia…” Celal said. According to him, the fact that they ended up in the same cell is not a coincidence. “Maybe someone expected us to fight or swear.”
“But I got so angry then. I wanted to tell him: “You are a bastard! You called russia here. You have brought this calamity to my homeland! And when you yourself were given a tail, are you running now? Where? To the hated Europe!” Celal noted.
As earlier reported, in 2023, the russian-controlled “Kerch city court” sentenced the former deputy of the russian city council of Kerch, Kostiantyn Yermanov, to 11 years in a high-security prison on charges of possession and distribution of marijuana. In the video footage of the spring rallies of 2014 in Kerch, which have already become a documentary, Kostiantyn Yermanov is recorded with the russian flag in his hands. He is clearly in charge of the rally process.
According to the statement of the Deputy Ambassador of the President of Ukraine to Crimea, Tamila Tasheva, today, the number of Ukrainian political prisoners in russia is 217 people, 60% of whom are Crimean Tatars.
NUJU Information Service
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