Ukraine to Establish Muslim Troops: Crimean leader
The troops will be deployed in the Kherson region on the Crimean border and would monitor transportation of goods and people between Ukraine and the peninsula, he said speaking at a congress, Hurriyet Daily News reported.
The troop will be formed of Crimean Tatars, Kazan Tatars, Uzbeks, Chechens, Azeris, Meskhetian Turks and other Muslim groups, Kırımoğlu noted.
The announcement of the formation of the Muslim troops came a day after the second annual World Congress of Crimean Tatars which was held July 31 and August 2 in Ankara.
An autonomous Crimean Tatar Republic will be formed, Kırımoğlu said, calling on the Crimean people to take an active role in Ukrainian politics. He expressed expectation from the diaspora on this bid.
The 300,000-strong Muslim minority makes up less than 15% of Crimea's population of 2 million and has so far been overwhelmingly opposed to Russia's annexation of the peninsula.
The Russian move to annex Crimea followed an earlier vote in March on the peninsula’s future.
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