‘Kievan’s mass sclerosis and blindness cannot be explained’
Crimean spring: saboteurs, deceased employees of Berkut, demonstration and ‘polite people’. A Crimean journalist remembers how the peninsula was a part of Russia
Two years have passed since the Crimeans became independent from Ukraine and, consequently, became Russians. Aleksander Dremlyugin, a journalist from Simferopol, recalls that turbulent events of Crimean spring. He prepared a column specially for Realnoe Vremya where he thinks about what the peninsula has achieved since its annexation to the Russian Federation.
Tensions were running high
Annoyance and boredom greeted the start of the coup d'état in Kiev called Maidan and the Revolution of Dignity on the peninsula. Once Ukraine was violated by 'orange fraternity'. And now, in 10 years, we saw the same information manoeuvre and manipulations. Kievans' mass sclerosis and blindness who were joyfully jumping together with twisted radicals from western regions of Ukraine could not be explained. It probably could explain a certain estrangement of Crimea that lasted until blood spilled and we received threats of militant nationalists and their Crimean-Tatar accomplices from illegal Mejlis.
In my opinion, the turning point was on the eve of Men's Day, that is to say, on 22 February. That day the Crimeans attended the funeral of local people from special police force who were killed by bullets of 'peaceful' demonstrators: the senior warrant officer Andrey Fedyukin and the senior lieutenant Dmitry Vlasenko. Vitaly Goncharov, a 24-year-old troop commander of the special branch Tiger was interred in Kharkiv Oblast. Thousands of people came to the main square of Simferopol to pay tribute to them. Tension literally crunched in that cold and grey air of February. For many people, it was their personal tragedy. People welcomed with eyes filled with tears tired and exhausted police workers of Berkut and interior troop, who came from Kiev to say goodbye to their companions in arms.
The next day Sevastopol reared up on its hind legs, Kerch rose in rebellion. Then there was a decisive demonstration in Simferopol near the walls of the Crimean Parliament. Tens of people became victims through the same pro-Ukrainian radicals' fault from Mejlis. The pensioner Valentina Korneva and boy Igor Postny died.
Every one probably knows what happened next…
Hollywood ending: 'polite people' and Russian tricolor above Crimea
It was horrible to remain as a part of Ukraine. After the butchery on 26 February, people went home as bruised dogs – nobody had ever experienced such desperation. The prospects were not good: so-called nationalistic concentration camps with severe mopping up or armed conflicts and rivers of blood that we saw later in Donbass. It is difficult to express all palette of feelings we had, when the next day 'polite people' appeared and the Russian tricolor was flying above governmental buildings.
It should be understood that the majority of the Crimean people thought about their return to Russia at least from 1991. And, finally, that idea swiftly began to come true. It was what many people were dreaming of but couldn't imagine that it would happen in this life. We will always remember that inconceivable roundabout of emotions that we experienced in February-March 2014.
We will always remember that inconceivable roundabout of emotions that we experienced in February-March 2014. Photo: ntv.ru
I bet that many Hollywood producers and playwriters would envy such a plot with many twists and its happy and even fairy-tale ending. Crimea has never had, probably will never have, such an eye-wateringly high concentration of happiness, joy and inspiration that reigned on 16 March, on Referendum Day.
'Moscow expends much money'
Now it is thought that all Crimean people were intoxicated with the ideal image of omnipotent Russia but after facing the harsh reality of life, they were disappointed with their choice. It is an absolute rubbish that has no link with the reality – 'it cannot be because it can never be!'. No one is going back. We are not living in the Stone Age but in the information one. This is why we were aware of many sores of the Russian reality.
Moreover, till 2014 Ukraine had almost the same problems that Russia has, only in a worse state. In this respect, the post-Soviet space suffers from the same chronic syndromes of social and economic illnesses.
As for hopes, we still have them, of course. First of all, they are connected with the improvement of living standards and quality of the local administration. Moscow gave the Crimean authority power that factually did not exist during the Ukrainian period. Moscow expends much money the republic did not see tens of years. But there are no results in many indicators, and in some spheres, the situation is worsening. What are we speaking about if there is no clear development plan for Crimea and Sevastopol?
In fact, the Crimean authority was given a huge carte blanche but couldn't use it intelligently: hundreds of corruption scandals and criminal investigations, thousands of unfulfilled promises irritate the people of Crimea.
The efficiency of the local administration is very low, but the overall impression significantly differs from the official estimates. It seems that our administrators, including many functionaries of the Ukrainian period, solve individual problems, not the social ones. Unfortunately, the federal representatives who monitor Crimea don't help – the circumstances of Aleksey Chaly's resignation from the chairmanship in the Legislative Assemble of Sevastopol perfectly illustrate this fact. It became more difficult to live, and there are no prerequisites for the improvement of the situation. I hope that the federal authority, as well as the Crimean society, will draw correct conclusions and everyone will react as it corresponds.
Special services' work
It is said that saboteurs are trying to come here: Pravy Sector activists and other spies. In these two years, this threat did not decrease a jot – the flow of many spies, saboteurs, talent spotters, provocateurs and other pests has no end. We express our gratitude to professionalism and dedication of our special services and special police forces who are working on this problem round the clock.
Indubitably, there are some people who are able to carry out the subversive activity in Crimea and did not go anywhere. We might conclude that the corresponding bodies are working well because that people did not manage to do any bad. My relatives, friends and I feel safe. We would like to clear the authority out exterminating the persons of influence.
Kiev 'surprises'
There will be 'surprises' until criminals are heading the power in Kiev who are protected by the international community. They can do anything at any moment, any devious tricks and provocations. They promised to turn our water taps off – they did it. They promised to leave us without electricity – done. Now they threaten to poison the water, organize a naval blockade, explode the power bridge, etc. They are constant in doing abhorrent deeds. No one knows what idea will come to their minds tomorrow, for this reason, we cannot relax: 'want peace – get ready for war'.
Crimean spring is not over. I'm convinced that we will overcome it if we are supported by a strong and independent state, political strength, intelligent and effective power, healthy and sovereign economy and community united in a great idea. The most important thing is to decide what country we want to build and how to do it.