Crimea’s Muslims Mark 70th Anniversary of Deportations

World Today

In Crimea, tensions ran high on Sunday for the minority Muslim Tatars. Despite a ban on public gatherings, the Tatar community gathered to commemorate the 70th anniversary of their forced expulsion.

With Crimea once again tied to Russia, Tatars are growing concerned. In both cities, the gatherings were also a protest against Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which re-opened old wounds for the Crimean Tatars and raised fears of renewed discrimination under Moscow’s rule.

The new Kremlin-backed leaders of Crimea gathered instead near a mosque on the outskirts because they had refused to allow the Tatars to hold their rally on a central square. The Interfax Ukraine news agency said the crowd whistled in anger when two Russian military helicopters flew low over the gathering.

The Tatars, a Turkic ethnic group, now make up 12 percent of the population of Crimea, but they ruled the Black Sea peninsula from the 15th century until the Russians conquered it in the 18th century. CCTV’s Stephanie Fried has this report.

Muslim Community Commemorates Anniversary of Expulsions

In Crimea, tensions ran high on Sunday for the minority Muslim Tatars. Despite a ban on public gatherings, the Tatar community gathered to commemorate the 70th anniversary of their forced expulsion.

The Tatar community in Kiev also joined in marking the 70-year expulsion anniversary with a march. CCTV’s Roee Ruttenberg has the details.

Tatars Hold Commemoration in Kiev

The Tatar community in Kiev also joined in marking the 70-year expulsion anniversary with a march. CCTV's Roee Ruttenberg has the details.

Several hundred residents of the eastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on Sunday gathered outside the burnt remains of the city’s police station to commemorate those killed during a recent spike in violence in Ukraine. Floral tributes were placed at the entrance to the destroyed building by grieving relatives and friends of seven people killed in clashes at the seaside city on May 9.

Sunday marks nine days since the shooting, a significant period of mourning in Orthodox traditions. CCTV’s Roza Kazan has this report.

Eastern Ukranians Pay Tribute to Those Killed in Violence

In Mariupol in eastern Ukraine, hundreds of residents gathered outside the burnt-out remains of the city's police station to commemorate those killed during a recent spike in violence.This came as the city's new military commander started collecting weapons hoping to calm unrest. CCTV's Roza Kazan has more on that part of the story.

Despite a stalemate after the second round of European-brokered talks aimed at resolving the crisis, Kiev’s election commission plans to push ahead with the presidential vote in less than a week. CCTV’s Asieh Namdar interviews Kenneth Yalowitz, former U.S. ambassador to Belarus and Georgia, to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

Kenneth Yalowitz Talks on Ukraine Presidential Elections

Despite a stalemate after the second round of European-brokered talks aimed at resolving the crisis, Kiev's election commission plans to push ahead with the presidential vote in less than a week. CCTV's Asieh Namdar interviews Kenneth Yalowitz, former U.S. ambassador to Belarus and Georgia to discuss the situation in Ukraine.