# "Autonomy for Crimea" August 10, 2020 - [ Blog ](/news-categories/blog) ## by Emily Channell-Justice ![Emily Channell-Justice](/sites/g/files/omnuum4931/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/huri/files/emily_channell-justicesquare.jpg?itok=Swf01pUR) A few weeks ago, I interviewed Rustem Umerov, a Ukrainian MP and Crimean Tatar leader, about the situation of displaced people in Ukraine and the government’s efforts toward reintegration and reconciliation of currently occupied territories. One of the topics we discussed at some length was Crimean Tatars’ claim to be recognized as an indigenous population whose territory is the Crimean peninsula. This recognition—which would require changes to the Ukrainian constitution—would allow the Crimean Tatars to claim human rights violation based on international protections of indigenous populations. For our final projects in Ukrainian for Reading Knowledge with Professor Volodymyr Dibrova, I [found an article](https://www.pravda.com.ua/columns/2017/12/21/7166296/) discussing these claims to read in more detail, through which I also explored related vocabulary in Ukrainian. Here, I present some essential vocabulary, as well as the most interesting arguments from the article. Sort ### **Vocabulary** корінний народ, корінне населення: indigenous people, indigenous population автохтонний етнос: autochthonous ethnic group національні меншини: national minorities депортація: deportation переміщення, пересування: displacement окупація, захоплення: occupation окупаційна дія ворожої держави: occupational actions by an enemy state самовизначення: self-determination територіальна цілісність: territorial integrity універсальне/невіддільне/невід’ємне право: universal/inseparable/inalienable right повернення: return наріжний камінь: cornerstone стіл переговорів: negotiating table плавильний котел: melting pot Кримськотатарські органи самоврядування: Crimean Tatar institutions of self-governance Курултай: національне зібрання: Kurultai: national assembly Меджліс: виконавчий орган Курултая: Medjlis: Executive branch of the Kurultai The Crimean peninsula is home to several indigenous populations, aside from the Crimean Tatars, who are a Muslim population. Additionally, there are two major Jewish groups, the Krymchaks and the Karaims. Greek-origin Christians have also historically populated the peninsula, as well as Armenians, Bulgarians, Italians, and Farsi- and Turkic-speaking populations. Slavic populations—mostly Russian—arrived in 1783, after the Russian Empire’s expansion under Catherine the Great led to claims to the peninsula and the deportation of many of these populations. In 1783, the Crimean Tatar population was 95% of the inhabitants of the peninsula. This number fell steadily, and by 1926, the population of Crimean Tatars was only 25%. In 1944, Joseph Stalin ordered the deportation of all indigenous people, forcibly displacing Crimean Tatars to Uzbekistan. While there have been some efforts toward repatriation, today, the Tatar population is around 12% of the peninsula’s population. Author Arsen Zhumadilov bases many of his arguments on the question of “normative justice” and the rule of law. > «Право народів на самовизначення є універсальним правом, закріпленим у ключових міжнародних документах, включно зі Статутом ООН.» > > “The right of people to self-determination is a universal right, enshrined in key international documents, including the UN Charter.” The author argues that there have been three displacements of Crimean Tatars: the Imperial invasion in 1783, Stalin’s order in 1944, and the occupation of the peninsula in 2014: the “occupational actions of an enemy state.” Each time, Tatars were displaced from their homeland, which was a violation of their right to self-determination. Zhumadilov also argues that the long existence of the Medjlis and Kurultai is a mark in favor of the Tatars’ claim. Further, he states that in an autonomous Crimea, all indigenous populations—not just the Tatars—would be represented in these institutions of self-governance. This, he claims, makes these institutions more democratic than many others in Ukraine. Zhumadilov makes several recommendations. Notably, he argues that Western democracies should support Crimean claims to indigeneity that would allow them to have a stronger claim to self-determination. By their own rules, he says, “the rule of law is a cornerstone of state policy/верховенство права є наріжним каменем державних політик,” so these countries should naturally take the side of Crimean Tatars on “one of the fundamental rights of modern civilization/одного з фундаментальних прав модерної цивілізації.” Finally, he argues for a new system: > «Ми проектуємо такий лад у Криму, коли кримськотатарський народ не дозволить гегемонії інших над собою, коли основні питання в Криму будуть вирішуватися за столом переговорів, коли за такими столами звучатиме і кримськотатарська мова, яку розумітимуть присутні.» > > “We are planning a system in Crimea, when the Crimean Tatar people will not allow the hegemony of others over themselves, when the main issues in Crimea will be resolved at the negotiating table, when at that table, the Crimean Tatar language will be heard and understood by those present.” Zhumadilov’s sentiments echo those of Rustem Umerov, who hopes that President Zelensky will be willing to take Tatars’ claims to indigeneity seriously and will consider changing the constitution. If such actions will help return the Crimean peninsula to its native inhabitants so they can return to their homeland, Western democracies should support this move, as well. Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)