On Sunday, September 8, elections to the local parliament were held in the territory of Crimea. A few days later, the Electoral Commission announced the final results, which were not a surprise to anyone. Intrigue on the day of voting remained only data on the voter turnout. Or rather, to what figures the craftsmen will bring it. Speaking about the turnout, many powerful people simply could not help but mention the “activity” of the Crimean Tatars. But did this activity take place?
First of all, it should be noted that any statistics can be obtained exclusively through various studies, calculations, surveys, and so on. All numbers and percentages should be based on accurate calculations made by the appropriate specialists. This is understandable to any inhabitant. But, as it turned out, it was beyond the comprehension of some officials commenting on the voting process.
For example, the chairman of the regional “national-cultural autonomy of the Crimean Tatars” Eyvaz Umerov, reporting on how people participate in the elections in the precincts in Sudak, said that the proportion of Crimean Tatar voters there reaches 70%, and doubts here are not caused by the figure itself or even its reliability. One thing is not clear – to what did commentator was referring while getting these statistics done. For stating the fact, there was no reference to the source or at least some explanation. Of course, during the voting, various sociological services carry out an exit poll – finding out the opinions of citizens right at the exit from the polling station, which allows you to form a very superficial idea of the election process. In the case of Sudak, there weren’t any polls.
In order to demonstrate that Crimean Tatars participated in the elections, the Russian media have visited Kamensk Crimean Tatar school №42 named after Eshref Shemyi- zade, recording the voting process in the neighbourhood of compact residence of the Crimean Tatars. But from the 38-second clip it is hardly possible to draw out a conclusion about the national composition of those who came to the polling station.
Users of social networks were also interested in statements about the “activity” of the Crimean Tatars on September 8. Some even conducted their own polls. So, a social activist Elmaz Akimova on her Instagram page asked her subscribers, the vast majority of whom are Crimean Tatars, the question: “Did you go to vote in the election?” This social network allows you to arrange a simple survey with two versions of “yes” or “no” response, showing how many people responded to the question, and the withdrawal of a percentage. As a result, 113 people took part in the Elmaz survey, 109 of which answered negatively. Of course, he does not claim serious sociological research. But this result allows everyone to draw their own conclusions.
By the way, Elmaz-hanum also used another useful Instagram feature: in parallel with the survey, she turned to subscribers to comment on their answer in a special form. People explained their non-participation in the elections by the absence of an alternative among parties and candidates, the senselessness of voting under the current system of government. Some noted that employees of budgetary government agencies were forced to go to polling stations, hinting at serious consequences in case of refusal.
No statistical data on the participation of the Crimean Tatars has not followed even a few days later, when all the calculations relating to the electoral day, have already been made. The election commission announced only a total turnout of 33.28%, which was pulled either by the stuffing of ballots recorded in the Krasnogvardeisky and Razdolnensky districts, or by pressure on employees of state institutions, or in some other way. But this is a completely different story.
Osman Veli
