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PEOPLE OF “THE GREY ZONE” Witnesses of Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 Ichnia PC “Format” 2018 A65 UDC 63.3 (4АНГЛ) 6 ISBN 978­966­1567­56­5 A65 People of “the grey zone”. Witnesses of Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 / ed. and preface Andriievska A., Khalimon O.; Translator O. Tym chyshyn – Ichnia: PC “Format”, 2018. – 274 p. ­ Authors of the project: Anna Andriievska, Olena Khalimon Translator: Olha Tymchyshyn Published at the request of the Ministry of Information Policy of Ukraine. FOR FREE DISTRIBUTION If you purchase this book, please, contact us [email protected] This book of testimonies concerning Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 describes the part of history of “Crimean spring” which Russian propaganda xation of Crimea was bloodless and “Crimean people didn’t try to resist and willfullyconceals choseand distorts. Russia”. More How thandid Crimea fifty stories become refute a part the of myths Russia that and the how anne­ did that turn out for Crimean residents? What methods do Russian special agents and power forces use against peaceful citizens on the peninsula? Crimean people who became witnesses and victims of Russian military seizing of the peninsula in 2014 provide the answer on these and other questions. Photo materials are provided by the participants of the project. ISBN 978-966-1567-56-5 © PC “Format”, 2018 © O. Tymchyshyn, translation, 2018 © Andriievska A., Khalimon O., authors of the project, 2018 © Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance, 2018 To our descendants and all those who suffered from Russian aggression Foreword from authors of the project “In 2014 Crimea became the part of Russia without a shot being journalists like to repeat this statement. They try to strengthen thisfired”, concept Russian both functionaries, in Russia as well their as supportersin the world andusing pro formi­Kremlin dable ment has become deeply rooted in the atmosphere of lack of reliable andresources: exhaustive political, information financial aboutand informational. the events in Indeed, Crimea this in March state­ at formation of the complete picture of this story and, particularly, 2014, so­called “Crimean spring”. This book in your hands is aimed tedrepresenting by Russian those propaganda. facts, which Russian leaders, Russia­controlled mediaWe andwrote journalists this book prefer together not to with mention Crimean or which people, were for fabrica­ whom “joining” of the peninsula to Russia marked the beginning of life in the “grey zone”, where the laws of the civilized world are not ef fective and people with weapons and almost unlimited opportuni ties concentrate all power in their hands. How did the peninsula­ become under Russian control? Who helped Russian forces to ac­ complish this? How did this military operation affect residents of Crimea? What methods did Russian special services and security­ forces use to restrain any signs of dissent on the peninsula? The an swers to these and other questions were given by Crimean people, witnesses and victims of the military annexation of the peninsula­ by Russian forces in spring 2014. This book contains half a hundred testimonies, which break myths about the annexation of Crimea without bloodshed and victims, and that “Crimea residents didn’t try to resist and joined 5 voluntarily to Russia”. Certainly, not only these stories have to be unburdened Ukrainians and the world. Therefore, we propose to start with them. Without these stories of Crimean journalists, activists and ordi nary people it seems to be impossible to display an objective his tory of the events of 2014 and further life of the peninsula. These­ stories are important for the modern history of not only Ukraine­ or Russia, but also Europe and the entire world, for everyone who advocates the supremacy of human rights and respects the basis of world order. We intentionally and voluntarily didn’t interview any politician or statesman to avoid a possible conjuncture. Moreover, their state ments have been included in other publications. This book is the ­ rityfirst and one deputy contains mandate. testimonies of Crimean people, which contested againstTo all Russian those, who militaries in XXI by came peaceful to know protests soviet without repressions any autho­ being in FSB. capturedTo all those, by Russian who lost mercenary own homes and rescuing undergoing themselves fiendish and tortures their Crimea”. relatives from savage reprisal for non­recognition of “Russian returning of Ukrainian Crimea. We, contemporaries, need these To all those, who, having lost everything, continue to fight for tuation. Our descendants need these stories to know real betrayers andstories heroes, for awareness and won’t of be the misled exhaustive by somebody information in his about political this si­or personal interests. 6 Two realities of one peninsula When at the end of 2013 in Crimea the actions of solidarity with Kyiv Euromaidan had started, its participants explained: “We want a better life and European future for our children”. When Crimea had become under control of Russian militaries Russia and in the world, where every bit as good as it was in Soviet Union”.and “self At­defense” that time units, these their two supportersassertions have said: divided “We want residents to live inof the one peninsula into two barricades: one part wanted European future, and others – soviet past. “What is part constituted the majority in Crimea?” This question is often raised by observers and even Crimean people. Indeed, it is the most pointless question you could imagine. Since any answer doesn’t change the core of events in spring 2014. The will or unwill ingness of Crimean people to live in Russian was inconsequential in terms of affecting Kremlin military operation in Crimea. All those­ unwitting or not, helped to accomplish that operation. Indeed, it who expressed their pro­Russian position with tricolors in hands, port from Crimean people. Even though residents of Kerch city saw thatwas beneficialmany buses to withKremlin unknown to show people the worldarrived outpouring from Russia the to sup the­ ferry crossing controlled by Russian soldiers, and those unknown ofpeople Crimea took into part a inmilitary the pro base,­Russian a ground actions for later special on. agencies with unlimitedThe result opportunities, of February ­“aMarch grey 2014 zone”, events where is the transformationright of power dominates all human rights. The only thing from the Soviet past embodied in practice, there are repressions. 7 in terms of high salaries and pensionary payments, other part is torturedWhen inone FSB part and of imprisonedCrimean people for political tell us about commitments Russian benefits or reli gious convictions. These two worlds coexist within one peninsula, without overlapping. ­ Soviet reality was the same. When one part received free apart ments and obtained high positions in the government, others were announced as enemies of the nation and destroyed millions. The­ Therefore, descendants of political repression victims had gotten truth about these crimes was hidden and marked as classified. lapse. a chanceNowadays, to find political out the persecution truth after isyears also ofcommonly the Soviet used Union’s practice. col­ I am one of the victims and because of me affected people close to lowsme. That and wasdemanded one of thenot reasonsto tell anybody I became what a co happened­author of by this no book. man From 2014 FSB officers are torturing and intimidating my fel­ rers can escape from the punishment and their victims are losing­ allner chances of means, to beand protected. not to cause However, the alarm. the world Only history in this showsway tortu­ that the silence about the past crimes leads to their occurrence again. With the aim of avoiding mistakes of the past it’s important to know and to provide not only sketchy pictures of happy activists with tricolors, but exhaustive information about Russian annexation of Crimea and its consequences. advantage. We live in the era of rapid development of information technologies,In comparison which with do notsoviet give times, somebody today possibility we have ato significant create an “Iron Curtain”. Society seeking for the truth has more opportunities to hear and see it. All we need to do is a desire to face the truth. Anna Andriievska, journalist from Crimea 8 Crimea is Ukraine, but we still have a lot of work to do When somebody asks me: “How did you spend two years in Crimea?”, I reply: “Mainly uncomfortable”. Before moving to the the Soviet past. In the store to my request in Ukrainian: “Give me a bread,peninsula please”, (from nobody Volyn) paid I didn’t attention meet a to lot me of before,people anddreaming when aboutI paid ver heard anything bad about me. In Crimea people often asked me whyfor ticket and howin the long bus I wasand saidgoing in to Ukrainian: stay in Crimea, “One ticket”,and why I have Ukraine ne­ is better than Russia. Of course, day by day the immunity was formed no those people inspiredand events… me for Meetings future work. and acquaintance By the way, most with of pro them­Ukrainian after the acti­ an nexationvists, public of Crimea figures, had politicians, to leave the even peninsula. though they were not often, Crimea has taught to persist and survive in the toxic environ­ ment, to distinguish “professional Ukrainians” and Ukrainians, ­ relations, if something required explanation. forcedHere to are turn a few on stories,analytical one abilities of them and hase search a continuation cause­and ­nowaeffect days. ­ First story March of 2016. Kerch. Training for the members of local elec tion commissions – the head, deputy and secretary. Hall for 300 ­ persons. At that moment certified trainers, my colleague and I, of the Central election commission 9were on the stage. I first took the I walked to the microphone and start to speak in Ukrainian.

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