Yusuf İnan 

Journalist | Political & Strategic Analyst

Crimean Tatars Fight for the Freedom of Crimea and Ukraine

"We Will Definitely Win!"

BIOGRAPHY: Fevzi Rizaevich Mamutov

Fevzi Rizaevich Mamutov (born January 28, 1991, Kolomenske, Crimean Oblast) is a Ukrainian athlete and politician. Since 2021, he has served as a Deputy of the Odesa Oblast Council and is a member of the "European Solidarity" party. He is a Master of Sports of Ukraine of International Class in Greco-Roman wrestling.

Born into a Crimean Tatar family, he practices Sunni Islam. His family history is deeply scarred by the deportation of 1944; his grandmother lost her parents and four siblings, while his grandfather lost his entire family at the age of 18. Fevzi's parents lived in exile in Uzbekistan before returning to Crimea in 1990.

A champion wrestler, Mamutov has won numerous national and international titles, including the European University Championship (2014) and the German Club Championship (2018). Following the full-scale invasion, he has dedicated himself to volunteering and supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

THE INTERVIEW

YUSUF INAN: Who is Fevzi Rizaevich Mamutov? What has he done up to this time? What are his next goals?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Today, Fevzi Mamutov is a volunteer, a Crimean Tatar, a citizen of Ukraine, and a deputy of the Odesa region.

YUSUF INAN: What did you feel when Russia invaded Crimea? What did you see? What changed in your life?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: At the time of the annexation of Crimea, I was an athlete, a member of the national Greco-Roman wrestling team. I took part in the rally on February 26 in Simferopol. After the pseudo-referendum, I moved to Kyiv. I felt that my people were losing their homeland once again.

YUSUF INAN: What is happening in Crimea right now?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Right now in Crimea, there are repressions, mobilization, and "bavovna" (explosions). Many people are waiting for the return of Ukraine.

YUSUF INAN: There is a prevailing image that Crimean Tatars are not united. Is that true?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: The unity of Crimean Tatars exists in their resistance to the Kremlin. It has always been this way. Even if there might be a lack of unity in other matters sometimes, in this resistance, 98% of the people share exactly this opinion.

YUSUF INAN: Are Crimean Tatars divided into pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian groups?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: As in any society, there are different representatives with different views. But on this issue among our people, pro-Russian ones are more of a statistical error percentage.

YUSUF INAN: Who is the leader of the Crimean Tatars?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Mustafa Dzhemilev.

YUSUF INAN: Does he have an organized organization? If so, how does it work?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Today there is a central representative body—the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People. There are many public organizations that coordinate with the representative body on various issues. There are quite a few representatives of the people in the state sectors of Ukraine.

YUSUF INAN: Why didn't the Crimean Tatars intervene in the Russian invasion of Crimea?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: February 26, 2014, was the day when the defense of Crimea took place. But an unarmed people cannot fully resist a regular army.

YUSUF INAN: Did the Crimean Tatars, as it seems from the outside, just watch the Russian invasion of Crimea?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: There was resistance—the rally.

YUSUF INAN: Crimean Tatars have a history. Although the Crimean Khanate was destroyed, it was a state. Shouldn't Russia have foreseen that it would invade Crimea and taken precautions?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: This should have been done by the Ukrainian state, including in union with the indigenous people. But Russia, interfering in Ukraine's internal politics, lobbied its interests through pro-Russian politicians, weakened the army, and lobbied the language issue, thereby dividing Ukrainian society.

YUSUF INAN: Now Russia has gone even further and occupied all of Ukraine. If Russia had met a strong reaction to the invasion of Crimea, it would not have dared to invade Ukraine. What do you think about this?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Russia attacked Ukraine, but it did not occupy it. And in this war, it will lose. If the Ukrainian state had fenced itself off economically and physically from the very beginning of independence and built a strong economy, the invasion would not have happened. But Russia's insidious policy is always interference in another country, politics, economy (Moldova, Georgia, Afghanistan, Syria, Ukraine...).

YUSUF INAN: Did you consider a Russian invasion of Ukraine possible?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes. Sooner or later it had to happen. And this is exactly what will lead to the decline of Russia.

YUSUF INAN: Russia easily took the Kherson region, where Crimean Tatars are concentrated and where Turkey promised to build housing.

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: 500 apartments were planned to be built there. There were certain agreements at the highest level.

YUSUF INAN: Why was Kherson lost so easily?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes, I think after the victory they will explain to us why it happened that way, that the occupiers entered so easily from the south. There are certain thoughts on this, but I will not express them because I am not a military expert.

YUSUF INAN: Are there currently Crimean Tatar families in Kherson?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes, in Kherson, which is under shelling after de-occupation, there are several families. Many families are in the occupied parts of the region.

YUSUF INAN: Did people die during the occupation? Are there families exiled to Russia?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes, there are those killed, tortured, and locked in prisons.

YUSUF INAN: It has been a sad time from the Crimean Khanate to today. Do you and the Crimean Tatars have work regarding resurrection and restoration?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Today, we see National Autonomy within the Ukrainian state as the only possible option.

YUSUF INAN: You are a national athlete, a national wrestler. We also learned that you are a soldier. You are fighting in the Ukrainian army against the occupiers. You also have a political identity. You hold the title of Deputy of the Odesa Oblast Council. How did you get into politics?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: I got into politics through social activities and thanks to a capable team. Fate gave me a chance, thanks to which we can be useful and change the state for the better.

YUSUF INAN: You have too many identities. You have a versatile and strong personality and experience. What social work do you conduct with Crimean Tatars in Odesa?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Now in Odesa, we involve Crimean Tatars in volunteering, advocacy, job creation, and helping the army.

YUSUF INAN: Many Turkish and Muslim communities lived in Ukraine. How did these communities react when Russia invaded Ukraine? Did they also oppose the occupation within the Ukrainian army like you?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Of course, very many Muslims (Crimean Tatars, Turks, Azerbaijanis, Chechens, etc.) are fighting for the independence of Ukraine. And this proves once again who is right in this war!

YUSUF INAN: Are the majority of Crimean Tatars in Ukraine fighting on the side of Ukraine against Russia?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Of course. There are very many Crimean Tatars on the side of Ukraine. Some are unfortunately deceased today. Some Crimean Tatars ended up in the occupier's troops only because of criminal mobilization (which, by the way, Russia should not have conducted on occupied territory according to the Geneva Convention).

YUSUF INAN: How many Crimean Tatars, Turks, and Muslims do you know who died during the war in Ukraine?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Unfortunately, there are many dead. During such an insidious and terrible war, one person is already a lot, but there are dozens of such people...

YUSUF INAN: Do you plan to seek justice for the tortured Crimean Tatars?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes. After the return of our territories, every criminal must answer before the law according to international law. A tribunal is the solution for finding and punishing these non-humans who tortured and raped people.

YUSUF INAN: Is there a special cemetery for Crimean Tatars and Muslims in Ukraine?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes. In some cities, there are separate cemeteries. In Odesa, the last Muslim cemetery was closed 120 years ago. Before the war, there were plans to appeal to Turkey and create a Muslim cemetery. But the war ruined these plans.

YUSUF INAN: In Turkey, special cemeteries for martyrs are established. There are cemeteries in every city. Fallen soldiers and police officers are buried in these martyr sections. Is there such a practice in Ukraine?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: In Ukraine, cemeteries have separate allocated plots for the burial of soldiers. And unfortunately, they are filling up quickly with fresh graves. But we know that they died for our FREEDOM. Honor to them!

YUSUF INAN: What does the Ukrainian state do for tortured Ukrainian citizens and soldiers? Is a salary or reward paid?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes, there are payments for the families of fallen soldiers, but no money can replace a human life! But there are payments.

YUSUF INAN: There are many photos of martyrs that we see on your Facebook account. And how are the families of those martyrs now? What does the Ukrainian state do for the children and families of the deceased? What do you and the Crimean Tatars—the Crimean Tatar movement, if any—do?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: The state supports the families of fallen soldiers with cash payments and subsequent benefits. For our part, we support them by searching for international support programs, education, material support, and of course, moral support.

YUSUF INAN: The Russian occupation, which has been going on for about a year, has reached a critical stage. With the weather warming up, it is predicted that Russia will start a ground operation. Because the stocks of long-range missiles and bombs in Russia's hands have fallen below critical levels. The horde plans a manpower attack. Ukraine requested and received tanks for ground operations. Now it wants aircraft. Probably, it will also buy F-16 planes.

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes, the most important support for the Ukrainian state, for restoring its integrity, is offensive weapons. Just like Turkish Bayraktars helped the Ukrainian army at the beginning of the war! A folk song even appeared here in honor of this apparatus. We need tanks, planes, helicopters, self-propelled artillery—everything that will allow us to defeat the aggressor.

YUSUF INAN: And what about the Ukrainian people, while the Ukrainian state works feverishly and strategically?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: The Ukrainian people have consolidated in this war like never before. Ukraine is united in a single impulse of thirst for victory!

YUSUF INAN: How much of Odesa's population has left the city?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Many people left Odesa at the beginning of the war. But about 200,000 displaced persons arrived from the shelled territories of Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Donbas. Therefore, Odesa is a southern hub that not only sees people off but also welcomes many!

YUSUF INAN: Odesa is named the commercial center of Ukraine after Kherson. How is business and life in Odesa now?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Business suffers, like everything else, from the war and power outages. The port was without work for a long time, and only tripartite grain agreements, where Turkey is a guarantor, made it possible to launch this direction a little. I wouldn't say business is in total stagnation, but the volumes are certainly not what we would like.

YUSUF INAN: The title "Hero of Ukraine" is awarded to soldiers who died in Ukraine. Has the title of Hero of Ukraine been awarded to tortured Crimean Tatars?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: No. Among Crimean Tatars, there are no soldiers yet who have received such an honorary title.

YUSUF INAN: With Russia's invasion of Ukraine, did many families leave the country? Where is your family? Did they go to a safe country too?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Indeed, many families went to safe countries. My family also left for Germany in the third month of the war.

YUSUF INAN: And what about the millions of Ukrainians who found refuge in other countries now? What do they feel in the countries they go to?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Millions of Ukrainians who went abroad have two feelings—gratitude for the support of the countries that accepted them and a great desire to return home. Because there is a proverb "East or west, home is best." But above all, for women and children, it is SAFETY.

YUSUF INAN: Many Ukrainians I spoke to on the Internet said they miss their country and home, and even they cannot stand it. What are your observations on this?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Millions of Ukrainians who went abroad have two feelings—gratitude for the support of the countries that accepted them and a great desire to return home. Because there is a proverb "East or west, home is best." But above all, for women and children, it is SAFETY.

YUSUF INAN: You are a famous athlete. You are a soldier of the Ukrainian army. Do other famous athletes, activists, etc., support the National Struggle like you?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes, among the fighting men there are many famous athletes. And today there are already dead ones—unfortunately.

YUSUF INAN: Is the state system working in Ukraine? How do state bodies act during missile and bomb strikes?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: The state system in Ukraine is working fully. Military administrations of regions and all municipal bodies are functioning. They stop working only during air raid alerts.

YUSUF INAN: How is the psychology of the Ukrainian people forming?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: The more criminal steps Russia takes on its part, the more Ukrainian society rallies together!

YUSUF INAN: I compare the process Ukraine is going through today with Turkey's War of Independence. Such an assessment was given by a Ukrainian deputy. Is the Ukrainian parliament united? Are all deputies fighting against Russia?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: In 1991, Ukraine gained independence as a result of the collapse of the USSR. And society mostly did not appreciate this, and not everyone perhaps knew the exact date (August 24) of receiving it. Whereas in Turkey on April 23, all streets turn red with national flags. Now in Ukraine, Independence Day is the most important holiday. Because the country has given many sons for its independence. In parliament, they are gradually stripping mandates from people who waited for Russia here. But the laws of democracy do not allow taking away mandates from people simply for belonging to certain parties. Therefore, only if there are grounds for it—a deputy is deprived of the mandate. The parliament is mostly united in its desire against Russia.

YUSUF INAN: It is said that victory will be Ukraine's. How much do Ukrainians believe in victory?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: 101%.

YUSUF INAN: Very many elderly people in Ukraine are in a difficult situation. Russia hits power lines. It bombs people's livelihoods. Very many pro-Russian people and people of Russian origin lived in Ukraine. Has the opinion of these people changed in the face of Russia's invasion?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Of course, everyone, even pro-Russian minded people, with the beginning of this war understood—Russia is a terrorist!

YUSUF INAN: Soldiers fight, civilians are killed. Children are being killed. Did these events, this lawlessness rally the people living in Ukraine around the Ukrainian state and President Zelenskyy?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes. The Ukrainian nation is united like never before and will fight for victory to the end. To the end of Russia!

YUSUF INAN: Ukraine, which was said would be unbearable for a few days, managed to stop the most powerful army in the world. The Ukrainian people also won the appreciation of the whole world. The struggle of the Ukrainian army impressed the peoples of the world. Ukrainian soldiers rushed to the front knowing they would die. Just like in Turkey's War of Independence... Turkey fought against 7 great powers and succeeded...

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Turkey succeeded by fighting against powerful armies including the USA, England, France. Now the whole world is on Ukraine's side, including Turkey. Therefore, our victory is only a matter of time. But unfortunately, there is still the question of the lives of our soldiers. And the most annoying thing is that terrorists kill civilians too. And therefore, weapons support should be even greater and faster for the sake of saving the lives of innocent women and children, men and the elderly!

YUSUF INAN: Ukraine also stopped the Russian occupation. What are your predictions for 2023?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: We hope for the best. We do everything for the sake of victory. I won't undertake to predict.

YUSUF INAN: What has changed in the thinking of the Ukrainian people up to this day, February 24, 2022?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: The scariest thing is that people's deaths are becoming statistical data. And probably everyone already has a deceased acquaintance. The desire for mutual help—that is what appeared in the mentality of this people!

YUSUF INAN: What do you think about Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's refusal of the US request for help to leave the country?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: As we see today—it was the correct decision. Any president respecting himself and his country would have acted that way.

YUSUF INAN: Undoubtedly, President Zelenskyy has become a world leader. All states of the world took the side of the Ukrainian state. How does Mr. Zelenskyy look from inside Ukraine?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: The vast majority of people in Ukraine support and are proud of their president.

YUSUF INAN: Mr. Zelenskyy is a 45-year-old young political leader. More importantly, a Commander-in-Chief who fought with Ukrainian soldiers at the front...

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Indeed, now Zelenskyy is a trend! He is a positive leader recognized by the whole world.

YUSUF INAN: President Zelenskyy achieved the impossible. He brought Russia to its knees, something Sheikh Shamil could not stop. What do you think about this?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: I think it is the entire Ukrainian nation that brought Putin's Russia to its knees. Putin and his brazen policy united the entire civilized world against himself. After all, strength is always in unity!

YUSUF INAN: Sheikh Shamil's country sided with Russia. As a Muslim and a Turk, what do you think about this?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: All representatives and adherents of Sheikh Shamil are now in Turkey, countries of Western Europe, etc. Those who are inside Russia are waiting for its decline to gain independence. And Putin's supporters are not descendants of the history of Sheikh Shamil. These are people who are "mankurts" (brainwashed slaves)!

YUSUF INAN: There are also many soldiers of Turkic origin in the Russian army. Are these soldiers fighting voluntarily on Russia's side? What do you think about this?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: I think this is the result of criminal mobilization, because many voluntarily surrender into captivity.

YUSUF INAN: Can this war end in peace in a short time? What do you think about this?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Yes, without a doubt. The result of this war will be the decline of the Russian economy and the end of Putinism.

YUSUF INAN: Russia invaded Ukraine and dragged the Western world into its geography. Has Russia entered a process of disintegration by invading Ukraine? Do you think Russia will come out of this war in pieces?

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: The main goal is the nuclear disarmament of this country as a whole. And then each of the countries that are part of Russia will have to fight for its independence itself. Ukraine has already recognized Ichkeria as independent.

YUSUF INAN: If you have anything else to say, you may say it. Thank you sincerely for making time for us.

FEVZI RIZAEVICH MAMUTOV: Ukraine needs weapons! We will definitely win!

Yusuf İnan

www.wisenewspress.com

Yusuf İnan is a journalist and author. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of WiseNewsPress.com, SehitlerOlmez.com, and YerelGundem.com, and specializes in strategic and political analysis of Turkish and global affairs.