is no fake. It is, however a monstrous affront to Mustafa Jemiliev and the entire Crimean Tatar people, and a violation of Jemiliev’s rights.

It was yet again a credit to Jemiliev and the Crimean Tatars that the stand-off ended without bloodshed. The leader of the Crimean Tatars, a man of immense moral standing, known throughout the world has been banned from entering his homeland.

Refat Chubarov is quoted as saying that “it seems any Crimean Tatar can today not be allowed back to his homeland. The Crimean Tatars who for 50 years fought for the right to live in their homeland.”

As reported, the Mejlis decided on Friday evening to cancel celebrations of a major Crimean Tatar festival following the refusal of the Russian authorities to allow Jemiliev to flyto Simferopol. It was decided instead to travel to the border with the Kherson oblast to meet Jemiliev who has still not even received an official decision regarding the reasons for the ban.

The Kremlin-backed self-styled prime minister of the Crimea, Sergei Aksenov claimed that Jemiliev had come to the Crimea “at the instigation of the western security service to destabilize the situation”.

Crimean Tatars began blocking roads near Simferopol, Bakhchysarai and other places in protest. However it was decided that Jemiliev would return to Kyiv in order to avoid confrontation and bloodshed.

The decision was doubtless wise. Over the last two months Russia has been waging an undeclared war using all means to provoke conflict and create the impression that Ukrainians are fighting among themselves.

The head of the Mejlis has