On occupation, traditions and Crimea that came in dreams: an interview with politician Fevzi Mamutov

In a school where you are the only Crimean Tatar out of 1,500 children, you have to defend yourself, your identity and rights, resist and learn to be a little bit of a historian. This is what Fevzi Mamutov, the head of the Crimean Tatars of Odesa Region NGO, athlete, politician, and deputy of the Odesa Regional Council, said. In a conversation with Intent, he shared how he sometimes had to fight for the truth in a variety of ways.

Mr. Fevzi recalled how the atmosphere in Sevastopol was prejudiced against Crimean Tatars and historical issues. In particular, how peers managed to start listening to you only after you first defended your own right to speak.

Fevzi Mamutov. PHOTO: Intent/Natalia Dovbysh

Watch the full interview about the occupation, traditions, the importance of preserving the language and Crimea that came in dreams on September 4 on the Intent YouTube channel. Subscribe and press the bell so you don't miss a thing.

''You or we have no idea, my children will not imagine what happened when we came to the topic of the Mongol-Tatar yoke in history lessons in Sevastopol. The only thing that genetically connects me to it personally is the fact that the word "Tatar" is there. And this forced you to be a historian and explain something, even fight," Mamutov emphasized.

Earlier, Intent had a conversation with Ostap Ukrainets , a writer, translator and cultural activist. The author, who studies language not only as a communication tool but also as a space of identity, historical memory, and political influence, discussed 'correct' Ukrainian and the place of surzhyk in the linguistic space.

Катерина Глушко