Back in February 2014, the Russians began to actively persuade Crimeantatars to take their side. After all, the occupiers needed a showcase of a "free and multinational" Crimea. However, on February 26, thousands of Crimeans rallied in the center of Simferopol to support the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

On March 15, the Mejlis officially opposed the annexation, and a few days later, it was declared outlawed by Russian law. And on May 3, Crimeantatars from all over the peninsula traveled to Armyansk to meet Mustafa Dzhemilev. The occupiers tried to prevent them, and then people simply broke through the cordon of special forces. The Crimean leader was not allowed to enter the occupied territory, and mass repressions began against the protesters. The Russians finally realized that they would not get massive support from the Crimeantatars. But they still needed a showcase, and so they began recruiting Crimeans one by one: buying, blackmailing, and threatening them. Those with whom they managed to reach an agreement are known by name in Crimea. But outside the peninsula, these names should also be known, so we decided to publish a list of the most "successful" traitors of their own people.

Remzi Ilyasov

A symbol of the split of the national movement, the most painful - but also the most instructive - case of betrayal. The former deputy chairman of the Mejlis was one of the first to go over to the occupiers' side. He was immediately appointed deputy chairman of the occupation State Council, but was fired in 2018 and has been leading the "pocket" traitorous movement "Kyrym" for the past 7 years. He is wanted in Ukraine on suspicion of treason.

Edip Gafarov 

Ilyasov's successor as deputy chairman of the occupation State Council, dismissed in 2024. Currently, he is the head of the State Council's Committee on Interethnic Relations. Through Gafarov, the occupiers promote narratives about "harmony" and "friendship of peoples," although the world knows how the indigenous people are actually treated in Crimea.

Emirali Ablaev

Mufti of the Muslims of Crimea. Before 2014, he had considerable authority among Crimeans. But after the annexation, he remained in office and became an obedient tool of the occupiers. They use him to legitimize their power among the faithful. Ablaev receives Russian awards, and his public calls for participation in illegal Russian "elections" are a slap in the face to all those who do not recognize the occupation authorities, that is, the majority of the Crimeantatar people.

Lenur Abduramanov

Deputy Minister of Justice in the occupying Crimean government. Former head of the "Derzhkomnats" - the occupation State Committee for Interethnic Relations, whose task is to create the illusion of "interethnic harmony" under the Russian flag and the invaders' concern for the indigenous people, hiding real repression.

Zaur Smirnov

Another former head of the State Committee for Cultural Affairs. He was one of the first to join the occupation government after the annexation, demonstrating "support" from the Crimeantatars. He is currently the head of the pro-Russian organization “Crimean Interethnic Mission”. He is used by the occupiers to promote Kremlin narratives.

Ruslan Yakubov

The current head of the State Committee of Ukraine for Food and Agriculture. An agronomist by training, before the annexation, he was the deputy village head of Urozhayne. Under the occupiers, he is rapidly climbing the career ladder. Among his latest "achievements" is a call for residents of the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to obtain Russian citizenship in "record ten days."

Eyvaz Umerov

Head of the "Regional National and Cultural Autonomy of the Crimeantatars" - an odious "public organization" whose legitimacy is questioned even by pro-Kremlin lawyers.

Umerov is known for his aggressive pro-Russian stance, outspoken support for the war, and loyalty competitions with other traitors. The occupation police arrested him because of a fight with collaborator Musayev, whom Umerov accused of sympathizing with Ukraine.

Chingiz Yakubov

Rector of the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University (KIPU) and a member of the occupation State Council. KIPU was founded in 1993, during the mass return of Crimeantatars to their homeland, and remains a key university for Crimeans. Therefore, the occupiers control Crimeantatar youth through Yakubov, introducing Russian ideology and educational standards.

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Teifuk Gafarov

A lawyer, former member of the Mejlis, sided with the invaders and was appointed deputy head of the occupation administration of Simferopol. He held this position for two years, and even his initiative to create a Crimeantatar branch of the “Night Wolves”, a motorcycle club whose mission is aggressive Kremlin propaganda, did not help.

Ruslan Balbek

Former "Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers", then a member of the State Duma, now an ordinary propagandist, who is credited on Russian television as a "Crimean political scientist". He was used by the Kremlin to legitimize Russia's policy towards Crimeantatars and thrown out for "free" propaganda earnings.

Albert Kurshutov

The subject of our first list of Crimean traitors. A former businessman who, through his loyal service to the occupiers, was promoted to the post of "Minister of Internal Policy, Information and Communications" and thus became the main mouthpiece of Kremlin propaganda in Crimea.

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Цей список зрадників далеко не повний, але ми над цим працюємо. Кожний колаборант має понести покарання за страждання, які він приніс власному народу. І тому - далі буде.

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