Crimean Tatar TV channel back on air

The world’s only Crimean Tatar TV channel, which was shut down in April by Russian authorities, has resumed broadcasting from Kiev.

Now relocated to the Ukrainian capital, ATR’s deputy head, Ayder Muzhdabaev, said that the main aim of the channel is to show the world “the reality in Crimea”.

Mr Muzhdabaev affirmed that the Crimean Tatar community would not be silenced, despite the shutdown of the channel and the banning of Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev from the peninsula.

“If you keep silent, then let it be, you may as well live as vegetables,” Muzhdabaev stated.

ATR originally went off the air soon after midnight on 1 April 2015, after the channel was unable to renew its licence to broadcast.