“Tatarstan must become free: we are preparing for the hour X” – an interview with Marat Akhmerov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government in Exile of Independent Tatarstan for Legal and Legislative Affairs
35 years ago, Tatarstan declared its sovereignty, but in fact remained under the control of Moscow. Marat Akhmerov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government in Exile of Independent Tatarstan, talks about how the Tatar people are preparing for the fight for freedom, about underground movements, the future national liberation army, and about plans to liquidate the “death factory” in Alabuz.
– 35 years ago, Tatarstan adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty. How do you assess this period?
– Unfortunately, this sovereignty remained only on paper. Over the decades, the republic has lost real signs of independence. Instead of Independence Day, August 30 is now celebrated as the Republic Day and the Day of the City of Kazan. Tatarstan is actually under occupation by Moscow. The Shaimiev-Minnikhanov regime traded the freedom of the Tatar people for personal benefits.
– You call the current government a puppet government. Why?
– The government in Kazan does not protect the interests of the Tatars, but carries out the orders of the Kremlin. Even at the New Wave festival in Kazan, not a single Tatar song was performed. Igor Krutoy publicly stated that Tatar music allegedly does not meet the “federal level.” This humiliation will continue as long as Tatarstan remains a colony.
– You are planning to hold a large congress of Tatars. What do you want to decide at it?
– We want to unite the Tatar people and determine further steps for the struggle for freedom. The Prime Minister of our government, Rafis Kashapov, is actively working for this – he is negotiating with underground movements, political and public forces that opposed the Moscow regime. Our task is to gather all these forces into a single movement.
– What forms of struggle do you consider effective?
– Conferences and rallies abroad alone are not enough. We need to work on the ground in Tatarstan itself. We must build a network of underground movements, conduct an information campaign, and counter Kremlin propaganda. The most important thing is to work with people and achieve real results.
– What do you think about the UAV factory in Alabuz? What do you plan to do?
– This is a real “death enterprise”. The drones produced there kill civilians in Ukraine every day. We inform the factory workers, many of whom do not even know that they are involved in the production of weapons. In a future independent Tatarstan, this will be regarded as complicity in crimes. The operation of this factory must be completely stopped.
– Will there be forceful actions in Tatarstan?
– Yes, the underground movements must disable the production facilities of the plant and strike at the property of the Shaimiev-Minnikhanov clan. We are preparing for the hour X — the moment when the Tatar people will be able to rise up for a liberation uprising.
– At what stage is this process?
– We are negotiating the training of personnel in safe countries. At the right moment, this army will enter Tatarstan to ensure its de-occupation. Under the leadership of Rafis Kashapov, we are creating a structure that will allow us to act quickly and decisively. His steadfastness and consistency are an example for all Tatars who have not come to terms with the colonial situation.
—Congratulations on the anniversary and we believe in the success of the movement!
— I am convinced of victory over Muscovy!
