Women. Stories. Crimea

Today we are talking about the achievements and struggles of women in a historical context. About the women who are defending Ukraine from the aggressor and heroically fighting for our country on the front line. About activists of the resistance movement, political prisoners, human rights defenders, public figures and activists, wives and mothers of political prisoners, artists who cover important topics with their works so that the face of women’s resistance in Crimea can be recognized and the voices of brave and dedicated women can be heard.

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Mumine Murtaza-Karabash, a member of the Crimean Tatar national movement and a mother of many children, was honored with the Second Class Order of Mother’s Glory

In 1944, she and her sister were deported by the Soviet authorities from their homeland of Crimea to Uzbekistan, but for many years Mumine dreamed of coming back home: “We saw so much suffering, but I never erased Crimea from my heart. Mountains, gardens, the Black Sea, Uskut – we dreamed of returning to Crimea.” In 1968, she and her husband decided to move to the peninsula. At that time, they already had 7 children. Upon returning home, the family immediately faced persecution from the Soviet authorities, who ordered them to leave the peninsula within three days. They were deported to Uzbekistan again, but returned 12 days later.

In an attempt to avoid deportation, the family lived in airports, parks, and train stations. Eventually, they ended up in the Perekopsk region, where they were hosted by an acquaintance. In 1970, the couple had their eighth child, a boy named Vatan, which means Motherland. The house that the family had bought on one of their returns was taken away by the local “authorities” by force. The woman and her husband had to go through many difficulties. For some time they lived with their children even in a dugout. They were not allowed to work or send their children to school. Mumine’s husband even wrote letters to various structures and authorities demanding to register the family in Crimea, otherwise he threatened officials with self-immolation. After a difficult journey, it was only after 1987 that Mumine Murtaza-Karabash finally returned to her native Uskut, located on the southern coast of Crimea. She died this year in the occupied Crimea. She was 93 years old.

Aishe Seitmuratova, journalist, historian, veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement

Due to her active work and fight for the rights of Crimean Tatars, she was put under pressure by the Soviet authorities on several occasions. In 1966, she was illegally arrested and sent to the pre-trial detention center of Lefortovo prison. In June 1971, she was arrested again and sentenced to 3 years in prison. She served her sentence in the Mordovian camps of Barashevo and Yavas. She was released in 1974 without the right to conduct research and teach, but continued to participate in the national movement. Because of her activism, Aishe was forced to leave the USSR and emigrate. During the decades of emigration, she became a global public figure: she participated in many international conferences on human rights, made presentations on the situation of Crimean Tatars at forums and conferences: in London (1980), Paris (1980), Kuala Lumpur (1981). She met with leaders from around the world. She was twice invited to the White House by U.S. President Ronald Reagan. She was the first Muslim woman to be invited to an audience with this president. In 1990, she met with Turkish President Turgut Ozal. Aishe participated in the activities of international NGOs, including Amnesty International, the International Federation for Human Rights, the American Helsinki Group, the Center for Democracy in the USSR, and others. She has spoken in the parliaments of Canada, England, Italy, Turkey, France, and the U.S. Congress, and lectured at universities in various countries. In the early 1990s, Aishe returned to Crimea. In 1992-1993, she distributed aid to women and children, children’s clothing. In 1997, she published a brochure entitled “National Movement of Crimean Tatars”. Later, she founded a charitable foundation that took care of lonely elderly people, people with disabilities, and large families. She independently built a retirement center for lonely elderly people, which opened in 2001.

Maria (“Sakura”), a servicewoman, born in Crimea. She volunteered for the Armed Forces in 2023. She is currently serving in aerial reconnaissance as part of the 121st separate territorial defense brigade in Kherson region.

The girl deliberately tried to get into a unit that fights in the southern direction, because she dreams of being among those who will be the first to liberate her beloved Crimea. The path to the army was a long one for Maria, but she eventually achieved her goal and is now serving in the 121st separate territorial defense brigade. Before Russia’s full-scale invasion, she was abroad with her daughter and mother. But she was unable to start a new life there.

“The emptiness inside that you feel when you are very far from home, when such events are happening there, it is stronger than any circumstances. I was going through a very difficult depressive period at that time. I was drawn to Ukraine,” says Sakura. Upon her arrival in Ukraine, Maria made her first trip to the Donetsk region, and then her second. It was then, in the spring of 2023, that she decided to join the army. Today, Maria is fighting for her daughter Alisa to live in a free country. For her to be able to return to her homeland of Crimea.

Iryna Danylovych, nurse, civil journalist

The occupiers detained Iryna in the spring of 2022 and illegally sentenced her to almost 7 years in prison. She was threatened, blackmailed, and forced to confess in things she has never done. Now Irina is in a Russian colony, her health is deteriorating due to the lack of quality and timely medical care. Complete hearing loss in the left ear, deprivation of the opportunity to take the necessary medications, suffering from headaches and earaches are what Irina is going through now. But despite the terrible conditions of detention and the occupiers’ abuse, she continues to support Ukraine and believes that she will soon return home.

Prior to her detention, Iryna Danylovych worked as a nurse at the Malakhit rehabilitation center in Koktebel, maintained a social media page and several blog columns on the rights of healthcare workers and healthcare issues in the occupied Crimea. Iryna was one of the first correspondents of the Crimean Process; supported Crimean Tatar activists in the “courts”; prepared materials for the Inzhyr Media editorial board; supported medical activists, recorded violations of rights under occupation, and defended the rights of healthcare workers through her activities in the medical trade union movement and her own project Crimean Medicine Without a Cover.

The occupation “court” sentenced Iryna to almost 7 years in prison and a fine of 50 thousand rubles for covering the problems of the healthcare system, the crimes of the occupiers, and for protecting and promoting the rights of health workers in the occupied Crimea. She was kidnapped on her way home from work and forced into a car at night on the street. Iryna was transferred to the Krasnodar Women’s Correctional Colony No. 7 in Zelenokumsk, in the Stavropol Krai of the Russian Federation.

Even behind bars, Iryna Danylovych continues to resist the occupiers and support Ukraine. The song “I’m Free!” performed by Iryna Danylovych is a symbol of disobedience and resistance, which the occupiers do not like. And the tattoo on her body with the inscription “Freedom is our religion” is not just words, but a life credo.

Leniye Umerova, a 25-year-old Crimean Tatar who was illegally detained by the occupiers in December 2022 when she tried to visit her sick father in occupied Crimea

She was accused of allegedly “violating the rules of staying in the territory near the state border” and detained. However, a few months later, a new case was fabricated against her – charges of espionage. The main reason for these political persecutions by the Russian Federation is the fact that Leniye has a Ukrainian passport: in 2014, she refused to receive Russian documents and moved to mainland Ukraine. A Russian court has once again left Leniye in custody, this time until May 4, 2024. The Crimean Tatar faces up to 20 years in prison, and her case has been classified. Even in captivity, Leniye continues to resist the occupiers, not allowing them to break her spirit.

Halyna Dovhopola, a Crimean-born pensioner who was illegally detained by the Russian Federation in November 2019 on charges of alleged “high treason”

The woman is being held in captivity and complains about the terrible conditions of detention and lack of medical care. On March 27 this year, Halyna will be 69 years old. She is one of the oldest political prisoners held by Russia. Halyna’s entire case is fabricated – in fact, the pensioner is being persecuted for political reasons. Since the beginning of Russia’s occupation of the peninsula, the woman has maintained a clear pro-Ukrainian position and openly criticized the occupiers. Currently, the illegally convicted pensioner is being held in the Penitentiary Colony No. 1 in the Vladimir region of the Russian Federation. The woman is the embodiment of resilience and courage, as despite the inhuman treatment and terrible conditions of detention, she still remains optimistic and dreams of returning to her family. Neither torture, nor harassment and abuse by the occupiers broke the political prisoner’s spirit. In her letters, she expresses hope for the best and shares her love for Ukraine.

Wives and mothers of political prisoners, who continue to fight for the release of their loved ones, support the families of political prisoners in the occupied Crimea.
Women engaged in advocacy, human rights and journalistic activities. Among them, in particular, is Lutfiye Zudiyeva, a human rights activist with the “Crimean Solidarity” and a journalist with the Ukrainian media “Graty”.
“Zla Mavka” is a women’s resistance movement that unites more than a hundred members in the occupied territories of Ukraine.

These are brave women who resist the Russian occupiers every day. The activists work both online and on the ground in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine. The activists, by risking their own safety, distribute posters, leaflets, and other materials in the occupied cities as a sign of Ukrainian resistance and protection of their rights. The “Zla Mavkas” take advantage of the occupiers’ limitations, who do not suspect that women can play an active role in the resistance.

Liya Dostlieva, Yulia Po, Emine Ziyatdinova, Alevtina Kakhidze, Maria Kulikovska are modern Ukrainian artists.

They work with the theme of Crimea, highlighting in their works the experiences of living under occupation and the stories of people who were forced to leave their homes after the occupation and who are resisting the occupiers today. The artists’ works became part of the art exhibition ” LOMYKAMIN. Women’s Resistance in Crimea”, which aims to draw public attention to the stories of women who were illegally imprisoned for supporting Ukraine; to honor the strength and courage of the wives of political prisoners, as well as those who daily resist the occupiers, demonstrating the struggle for their rights and freedoms. The exhibition aims to show that the resistance of Ukrainian citizens in Crimea continues and is gaining more and more strength every day. More about the exhibition at https://lomykamin.crimea-platform.org/