Street exhibition on Crimean Tatars' struggle to be opened in Kyiv

An exhibition dedicated to the tragedy and resistance of the Crimean Tatar people is planned in Kyiv. It tells about the genocide, deportations, occupation and the unbreakable struggle of the Crimean Tatars for their culture and place in Ukrainian history.

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

On Sunday, May 12, a street exhibition "QIRIM IÇÜN / For the Sake of Crimea" will be opened on Khreshchatyk near the Main Post Office, dedicated to the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Crimean Tatar Genocide, which is commemorated annually on May 18.

The exhibition tells the story of the Crimean Tatars as a community that went through annexation in 1783, colonization, deportation in 1944, and the current occupation of the peninsula, but preserved its culture, identity, and political subjectivity. Through personal stories, symbols of national resistance, and figures of spiritual leaders, the exhibition creates a shared memory and a deeper understanding of Crimea's connection to Ukraine.

Particular attention is paid to the continuity of Russia's repressive policy toward Crimean Tatars, from the annexation in the 18th century to the current occupation. The exhibition helps to understand Crimea not as a "lost territory" but as a space of struggle, strength, and a future inseparable from Ukraine.

On May 8, a memorial event "Where Bitter Almonds Bloom..." dedicated to the victims of the genocide of the Crimean Tatar people was held at the State Architectural and Construction Library in Kyiv. The program included speeches by scholars and artists, a thematic exhibition and a theatrical performance. A unique historical calendar was also presented in the capital - the first edition that systematizes key events and figures in the history of Crimea. Its goal is to counteract disinformation and spread the truth about Crimean Tatars.

Meanwhile, the Crimean Week, a series of events about human rights violations on the occupied peninsula and the Crimean Tatars' struggle for their identity, is starting in Brussels for the first time. The program includes discussions in the European Parliament, film screenings, a photo exhibition and the presentation of a book about citizen journalists.

Анна Бальчінос