In occupied Simferopol, two Muslim schools were closed based on a denunciation by pro-Russian Crimean Tatar activist Ayvaz Umerov. This was reported by Krym.Realii.
"On July 4th, Russian security forces appeared in two Muslim religious schools in Simferopol, where they allegedly found violations and banned literature in Russia. Subsequently, the educational institutions were closed. The Crimean branch of the international movement for de-occupation of Crimea #LiberateCrimea 'Krym.Realii' reported that the schools were closed based on a denunciation by pro-Russian Crimean Tatar activist Ayvaz Umerov," the statement said.
The media noted that Ayvaz Umerov, currently fighting against Ukraine in a Russian military assault unit formed from prisoners who signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, continues to provide information to Russian security forces.
On his VKontakte page, Umerov published information alleging an anti-Russian ideological orientation of these schools. In a comment to his post, he informed that "all the security forces have received this and there are results."
It is reported that until 2014, Umerov attempted to lead the Sudak regional Mejlis, but he was not supported by the people. After annexation, he joined Ruslan Balbek's group, headed the Russian public organization "National-Cultural Autonomy of Crimean Tatars," and became the deputy head of the occupation administration in Sudak. Later, together with his patron, he fell out of favor with the Russian authorities in occupied Crimea and lost everything, including his freedom.
The occupation "authorities" claim that the closed schools supposedly belonged to the "pro-Ukrainian Muslim organization 'Tavriysky Muftiate.'"
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, approximately 700,000 Muslims have found themselves under Russian occupation, and 300,000 have become internally displaced persons, according to the press service of the President of Ukraine's Representation in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Experts and activists note that the occupation authorities in Crimea will not succeed in "conquering the minds of Crimean Tatars."
