Russian Council of Crimean Tatars set up in Crimea

In the annexed Crimea, the Russian-backed Crimean Tatar people's council was established to “provide feedback between the authorities and the population.” This is reported by Krym.Realia, which cites the Russian media.

"An advisory council of the Crimean Tatar people was set up to bring the relationship between the Crimean Tatars and the authorities to a new qualitative level,” said deputy Mufti of Muslims in Crimea Aider Ismailov.

He noted that the council consists of 15 specialists in different areas. It will be headed by the Kremlin-backed Mufti of the Crimea, Emirali Ablaev.

After the annexation of the peninsula in 2014, the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea stopped coordinating its actions with the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and underwent new registration in accordance with Russian legislation as the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea and Sevastopol (RAMCS).

In November 2016, the communities of Muslims displaced from Crimea held a congress where they decided to establish the Religious Administration of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on mainland Ukraine. Aider Rustemov was elected the Mufti.

In October 2017, the Department of Nationalities and Religions of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine registered the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, headed by Rustemov.