Crimean Tatars on the eve of the referendum

We present to your attention the vision of foreign photojournalists on the situation in Crimea. Reuters photographers Thomas Peter and Vasily Fedosenko spent some time with the Crimean Tatars, capturing their life on the eve of the referendum: the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, as you know, calls for a boycott of the referendum on the status of Crimea and refuses to cooperate with the new authorities of the autonomous republic. For some time, the Crimean Tatars even tried to resist the pro-Russian majority, but with the advent of “polite people” (unmarked military men), they decided not to escalate the already very difficult situation in society even more. Now Crimean Tatars organize their own self-defense units, which are on duty day and night in case of aggression from pro-Russian activists, and try to live a normal life - for example, they visit mosques for the obligatory Friday collective prayer (juma-prayer). On March 7, the Spiritual Administration of the Muslims of Crimea called on all believers to pray for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Crimea.

(Total 15 photos)

1. Bakhchisarai, Crimea. March 7th. A Crimean Tatar during the obligatory Friday prayer at the Khan-Chair mosque. Against the background of the conflict in Crimea, which began after the decision of the Federation Council of Russia on the possibility of introducing Russian troops into the territory of the peninsula, some Crimean Tatars began to leave the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

2. Bakhchisarai, Crimea. March 7th. Crimean Tatars listen to a sermon. At the exit from the Crimea, an increase in the number of refugees, mainly representatives of the Crimean Tatars, is recorded. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

3. Bakhchisarai, Crimea. March 7th. Mosque Khan-Chair. However, at the moment we are not talking about mass evacuation, but rather about the removal of women and children from Crimea. The vast majority of Crimean Tatar men are determined and are not going to leave Crimea. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

4. Bakhchisarai, Crimea. March 7th. At the Khan-Chair mosque. The representative of the Public Association "Sabir" (in translation - "patience") Gayde Rizayeva confirmed that at the moment the Crimean Tatars are taking out mainly women and children from the peninsula. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

5. Bakhchisaray, Crimea. March 7th. At the Khan-Chair mosque. “The men stay there (in Crimea). Firstly, the Crimean Tatars are a very warlike nation, they will not leave the territory of Crimea. Mostly women with children try to leave. Again, fearing bloodshed or provocations from other nationalities, including the Russian Federation,” said Ms. Rizaeva. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

6. Bakhchisarai, Crimea. March 7th. At the Khan-Chair mosque. Earlier, the former chairman of the Mejlis, Mustafa Dzhemilev, said that the Crimean Tatars are still taking a wait-and-see attitude, but the calm in the autonomy is very unstable. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

7. Bakhchisarai, Crimea. March 7th. At the Khan-Chair mosque. “Crimean Tatars are now taking a wait-and-see attitude. Since we understand that the occupying forces need a reason: they say, “these bloodthirsty Tatars” offend the Russians, so we are forced to send in troops,” said Dzhemilev. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

8. Crimean Tatars perform Juma Prayer - the obligatory Friday collective prayer. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

9. Crimean Tatars leave the Khan-Chair mosque after Friday prayers. At the moment, there are relatively few Crimean Tatars arriving at the Kiev railway station. However, the conflict in Crimea continues, and as long as the situation on the peninsula remains tense, it is quite possible that their number on trains from the peninsula to the capital and other Ukrainian cities will increase. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

10. Bakhchisarai, Crimea. March 7th. Crimean Tatars buy freshly baked bread. Crimean Tatars began to actively prepare self-defense units. Representatives of the national minority want to prevent provocations and ensure security in the conditions of Russian occupation in Crimea. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

11. Crimean Tatars buy freshly baked bread. To stabilize the situation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, an international peacekeeping contingent of UN security forces should be brought to the peninsula. This statement was made by the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

12. Skullcap - a traditional headdress of the Crimean Tatars. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)

13. Simferopol, Crimea. 9th of March. Members of the volunteer self-defense detachment of the Crimean Tatars are chopping wood for a fire, which will keep warm. They are on duty day and night, fearing the aggression of pro-Russian activists in connection with the situation in the autonomous republic. (REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko)

14. Simferopol, Crimea. 9th of March. The booth of the local self-defense detachment of the Crimean Tatars. (REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko)

15. Ukraine. Simferopol, Crimea. 9th of March. The sentry at the window. (REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko)