In 1785 Crimea Tartars made up about 87% of the Crimean population. Under the rule of Communist Russia (USSR) the population decreased from about 30% in 1926 to 1.6% in 1989. This change was partially due to Russian emigration and a reduction in the Tartar population from 180K to 38K people. Their numbers have increased to 284K since the Wall came down. Wikipedia

Since the Russian invasion of Crimea in 2014 Russian President for Life Vladimir Putin has encouraged ethnic Russians to resettle to Crimea. He labeled the Tartar population as officially “disloyal.” They have been subjected to widespread abuse.

Refat Chubarov – who chairs the Crimean Tatar People’s Parliament (Mejlis) – informed the Express that persecution of his people remaining on the peninsula continues to intensify. “Crimean Tatars are the target of repression,” he stated. “People are being abducted, and dozens have been found dead.” MSN

Tartars made up 60 to 70% of forced military conscripts by the Russian Army despite representing 13% of the population. The Russian Army also began handing out Crimean land to people who voluntarily sign a contract to fight against Ukraine according to Chubarov.

• Vladimir Putin ‘wants to finish what Stalin failed to accomplish’ as ‘genocide’ fears grow MSN.com
• Atesh ( Ukrainian and Tartar resistance) Wikipedia
• Planning to cross Dnipro? Atesh agents expose Russia’s military move goal in Crimea BBC
• Atesh partisans discover secret Russian military depot in Crimea: How does it look? Euromaiden Press