Crimean Tatars commemorating deportation

On May 18th Crimea is commemorating the 1944 deportation of Tatars, Greeks, Bulgarians, Germans, Armenians and other ethnic groups that inhabited the peninsula before World War II.

The official memorial day was established by the Crimean Supreme Council in 1994.

In order to commemorate the deportation, Crimean Tatars held two demonstrations in Simferopol this morning, but agreed to cancel a mass rally in the city centre, as demanded by the Crimean authorities.

Tatars are now holding a rally near the main Mosque.