Books about Crimea turned into drones at the Book Arsenal

At the Book Arsenal, visitors wrote 294 letters of support for Crimean political prisoners as part of the Letters to a Free Crimea initiative. The sale of books about Crimea raised more than thirty thousand dollars, which was spent on drones for reconnaissance.

This was reported by the press service of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

During the 13th International Book Arsenal Festival, which took place from May 29 to June 1, the Letters to a Free Crimea initiative, a platform of solidarity with political prisoners held in the temporarily occupied Crimea and Russia, presented its work. Festival visitors wrote 294 letters of support for Crimean political prisoners, each addressed to a specific person imprisoned for their position, activities or identity.

Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine Natalie Tsmitz joined the action, writing a letter to journalist Osman Arifmemetov, who was illegally convicted by Russia in 2019, and buying his book My Deportation. She emphasized the importance of international support for the Crimean issue, in particular through the materials of Ukrainian journalists.

The initiative was organized by the Mission of the President in the AR of Crimea, PEN Ukraine, ZMINA Human Rights Center, Crimea Daily, CrimeaSOS, and the Crimean Process. Next to the stand, there was a thematic bookshelf with publications about Crimea, including Free Voices of Crimea, Crimean Figs, and The Pressing Machine.

All proceeds from book sales were donated to the Crimean National Welfare Fund to support the community and finance strategic initiatives. This year, we raised UAH 31,400 to purchase drones for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.

In May, on the Day of Commemoration of the Crimean Tatar Genocide, anyone could join the"Letter to a Free Crimea" campaign in Kyiv, writing words of support for Ukrainian political prisoners persecuted by Russia for their pro-Ukrainian position and Crimean Tatar origin.

Also, the first thematic publication-calendar systematizing key events and figures in the history of Crimea was presented. It is intended to become a tool for combating disinformation and spreading true knowledge about Crimean Tatars.

Анна Бальчінос