Russian authorities try to prevent 82 years old veteran of Crimean Tatar national movement from entering Crimea
On November 8, the chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Refat Chubarov said that the Russian authorities of Crimea detained a veteran of the Crimean Tatar movement, 82-year-old Soviet dissident Ayshe Seitmuratova.
According to Chubarov, Seitmuratova was detained at the Chaplynka border crossing , located on the administrative border between the mainland Ukraine and the annexed Crimea.
"It has just become known that the Russian occupiers detained the legendary 82-year-old Ayshe Seitmuratova, Crimean Tatar, Soviet dissident, journalist, historian, a veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement," reads the message posted on Chubarov’s Facebook page.
Later, he specified that Seitmuratova wasn’t detained, but she had been denied a permit to cross the Chaplynka checkpoint. Since 1978, when Seitmuratova was expelled from the USSR, she has had an American citizenship.
"They have sent her to the Chonhar border crossing, explaining that foreigners can cross the "border" only there. The distance between Chaplynka and Chonhar checkpoints is more than 120 kilometers," wrote Chubarov.
Later, Chubarov reported that Seitmuratova returned to Simferopol.
"Luckily, after an hour of detention, the Russian occupiers released her, and at this time a compatriot, who was heading to Crimea, was crossing the border through this checkpoint. He gave Ayshe a ride to Simferopol," said Chubarov.
Seitmuratova has been residing in Crimea permanently.