Crimean Tatars Demonstrate for Return to Homeland
About 300 ethnic Crimean Tatars, shouting demands for restoration of their homeland, which was dissolved during World War II, clashed with police Saturday at the entrance to Red Square in the third major street protest in 72 hours.
Following the confrontation, police sealed off Red Square and a surrounding two-block area. The demonstrators then were permitted to stage a sit-down strike near the entrance to Red Square.
The demonstrators, chanting “Homeland, homeland!” and “We want (Soviet leader Mikhail S.) Gorbachev!” waved banners demanding their former ethnic area in the Black Sea region be restored to them immediately.
The Tatars, their arms locked together, charged the police, who kicked and shoved the demonstrators to control the crowd. Several people fell to their feet. A few demonstrators managed to break through police lines but were rounded up and hauled off by police. There were no injuries immediately reported in the unrest.
Earlier Saturday, about 125 Tatars demonstrated outside the administrative headquarters of the Supreme Soviet, or Parliament, in central Moscow. The demonstration lasted about two hours before breaking up peacefully.
On Thursday night, about 350 Tatars staged a three-hour sit-down strike in Red Square before dispersing peacefully after talking with senior party officials.
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