The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) and the Institute for Caucasica-, Tatarica- and Turkestan-Studies (ICATAT) invite you to a cross-media event series on the history, culture and current human rights and political situation of the Crimean Tatars – one of the Indigenous Peoples of Crimea, which is occupied by Russia. Between November 4 and December 11, 2025, events will take place in a total of nine cities.

The event will feature the presentation of the newly published book “Die Krimtataren, Geschichte, Kultur, Politik” (The Crimean Tatars, History, Culture, Politics) and excerpts from a documentary film series about Crimean Tatar traces in Germany. Crimean Tatar author and activist Elnara Nuriieva-Letova will read from her prose texts. In them, she shares her search for orientation and identity and describes how her own life has changed since the occupation of Crimea. Crimean Tatar musicians will also provide musical accompaniment for the event. Afterwards, there will be an opportunity to talk with the artists, Sarah Reinke, head of human rights work at the STP and expert on Eastern Europe, and Dr. Mieste Hotopp-Riecke, head of ICATAT.

Events at a glance
November 4, 2025, 7:30 p.m., Central Library Magdeburg, Breiter Weg 109, 39109 Magdeburg
November 5, 2025, 4 p.m., European Center for Minority Issues (ECMI), Schiffbrücke 12, 24393 Flensburg
November 20, 2025, 7 p.m., Haus der Demokratie und Menschenrechte (House of Democracy and Human Rights), Greifswalder Str. 4, 10405 Berlin
November 25, 2025, 2 p.m., Academy of International Affairs, Rheinallee 24, 53173 Bonn
November 27, 2025, 7 p.m., Kinemathek Karlsruhe, Kaiserpassage 6, 76133 Karlsruhe
December 2, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Institut für Osteuropäische Geschichte, Spitalgasse 2, Hof 3, Eingang 3.2 (Campus) 1090 Vienna
December 5, 2025, 7 p.m., Eine Welt Haus München, Schwanthaler Str. 80, 80336 Munich
December 10, 2025, 6:30 p.m., Deutsches Musikarchiv, Deutscher Platz 1, 04103 Leipzig
December 11, 2025, 7 p.m., Paulinerkirche, Papendiek 14, 37073 Göttingen

"Crimean Tatars have lived in Crimea for many centuries. Today, they are systematically persecuted and harassed by the Russian occupiers. Arbitrary arrests, abductions, house searches, and long prison sentences are intended to intimidate the people. But the Crimean Tatars are not only victims of Russian repression. They were and are important players in European politics and culture. Our series of events focuses on authentic information about the human rights and political situation in Crimea and the history and culture of the Indigenous Peoples. In doing so, we are taking a stand against Russian propaganda and disinformation, some of which is also taking hold in Germany,“ explains Reinke, co-editor of the book ”Die Krimtataren, Geschichte, Kultur, Politik" (The Crimean Tatars, History, Culture, Politics). It is the first book in German that compactly presents the fact that Crimean Tatars have been present in Europe for centuries – as traders, diplomats, cultural figures, and military personnel. Evidence of Crimean Tatar activity can be found throughout Germany.

Dr. Mieste Hotopp-Riecke is an expert on the subject of the Crimean Tatars. Together with a Crimean Tatar film crew, he has made a documentary series about cities and people in Germany who preserve Crimean Tatar cultural heritage. “We want to engage in dialogue with the audience. We want to educate and promote solidarity for the Crimean Tatars and their situation today,” says Hotopp-Riecke. Elnara Nuriieva-Letova, Crimean Tatar cross-media activist and author, adds: "Our voices should be heard. We want to be consulted when decisions about our homeland are made. Through this series of events, we want to increase our visibility in Germany and speak for ourselves."

In view of the current discussion about the impending transfer of Crimea to the Russian Federation and Russian propaganda claiming that Crimea has always been Russian, the organizers agree that it is very important to report on Crimean Tatar history and its interconnections throughout Europe.
The series of events is supported by the Ukrainian Institute Germany with funds from the German Foreign Office, the DELP -Stiftung, the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, and an alliance of Crimean Tatar and German initiatives and NGOs.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at presse@gfbv.de.