Isliamov Announces Launch of Naval Blockade of Crimea in early 2016

Coordinator of the civil action to block Crimea, Vice President of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars Lenur Isliamov expects the start of naval blockade of Crimea in late 2015 - early 2016.

He told journalists in Kyiv Dec. 15 after a meeting of leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people with representatives of diplomatic missions, Censor.NET reports citing Krym.Realii.

"I cannot disclose any detail. We are preparing for it (the blockade - Ed.) using all means and facilities we have. The near-term prospect of the blockade's start is the end of the year - the beginning of the next one, then you will see its pace with your own eyes ... We will certainly inform you. You won't miss it," he said.

Isliamov added that the leaders of the Mejlis had given their prior consent on the naval blockade of the annexed peninsula. He also noted that the initiators of the blockade strive to "make occupiers' living on the peninsula as uncomfortable as possible."

"We would like to make occupier's stay on our native land as expensive and complicated as possible. We are doing our best to force and scorch the invaders out, because these are our streets, our ancestors' graves, it is our history. This is no place for them, let them get out of there, this is our home," Isliamov said.

Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov reported that a group of lawyers was studying the legal possibility to organize a naval blockade of Crimea.

Coordinator of the civil action to block Crimea Lenur Isliamov said Dec. 1 that the cessation of delivery of goods, food and energy in Crimea from mainland Ukraine would be followed by a "naval blockade" of the peninsula, including in the area of the Kerch ferry, which became the main traffic arterial linking Crimea with the Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has officially announced Feb. 20, 2014 the day of beginning of the temporary occupation of Crimea by Russia. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the relevant law Oct. 7, 2015. The Western countries have imposed economic sanctions. Russia denies the occupation of the peninsula calling it a "restoration of historical justice."