The Second Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea platform hosted a performative event by contemporary Ukrainian artist Alevtyna Kakhidze

The Second Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea platform, held this year in the capital of the Czech Republic on October 24, featured a side event where participants had the opportunity to attend a performance by the Ukrainian feminist artist, performance artist, and media artist, Alevtyna Kakhidze.

The artist’s art intervention “Making spaces” involved the creation of “living drawings”. During the performative event, Alevtyna Kakhidze portrayed the history of Crimea from ancient times. In particular, within the performance, the artist illustrated on paper the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Empire in 1783 and the subsequent Russian occupation in 2014. In her work, Alevtyna Kakhidze also reflected the deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944; Musa Mamut’s self-immolation in 1978 as a protest against the Soviet oppression; a protest organized by Crimean Tatar activists in the center of Moscow in 1987 and other events that vividly depict the history of Crimea.

At the end of the performance, the artist mentioned those who had been illegally imprisoned by the occupiers in Crimea, including Nariman Dzhelal, Iryna Danylovych, Bohdan Ziza, Oleksandr Tarapon, Seyran Saliyev, Servet Mustafayev, Amet Suleymanov, Servet Gaziyev, and Halyna Dovgopola. The artist also emphasized that the occupiers in Crimea had unlawfully imprisoned 189 individuals.  In addition, Kakhidze highlighted the peaceful resistance movement of Crimean residents who are awaiting for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and a return to Ukraine. Among them are activists of the “Crimean Warrior Seagulls,” “Yellow Ribbon,” “Evil Mavka,” and “ATESH,” which translates from Crimean Tatar as “fire” or “flame.”

Many Summit participants, including representatives from various governments, actively engaged with the artist during the creation of this artwork. Thanks to Alevtyna Kakhidze’s work, they were able to delve into the history of the Crimean Peninsula and draw attention to the crimes committed by Russia on its territory.

We extend our gratitude to Alevtyna Kakhidze for creating extraordinary artworks that leave no one indifferent and for her unique approach to drawing attention to the Crimea issue.