The economic blockade of occupied Crimea is still going strong – with no end in sight. The region’s indiginous Tatar population are angry. They say the Kremlin-appointed officials are benefiting from lucrative trade ties with the Ukrainian mainland – and it’s these same officials who cracking down on their group – including killings of Tatars, quashing their media and banning the group’s commemorations.
Those camped here demand and hope that the economic free trade zone will soon be abolished. In the meantime, all freight has been stopped, rail links to a strategically importiant chemical factory cut – and next there are warnings the electricity supply could be targetted.
