Crimea: the unknowns Tatars and Turkey

In the increasingly difficult situation of the Crimean Tatar check the unknown . The third ethnic group in Crimea, strong of about 300,000 people , representing 16% of the population , fear the new Russian rule , because of the background to the background. Present in the country since 1400 , during the dictatorship of Stalin were deported under the principle of collective responsibility for the alleged collaboration with the Nazi invader . Returned to Crimea thanks to the policy of Khrushchev , have always been considered a threat to the integrity of the Slavic world and for this they suffered ostracism both the Tsar, who USSR. Their orientation in respect of the referendum on Crimea to Russia is sharp contrast, but it is said that the Tatars they travel to the polls between there is also the possibility of a boycott of the consultation. The characteristics of the Tatar are to speak the Turkish language and to practice the Muslim religion. This last aspect could be a source of concern for the Kremlin to grips with the spread of Islamic fundamentalism in the heart of the Caucasus. The fear of a crackdown prompted the Russian Tatars to apply for assistance to Turkey , who responded positively to the call by proclaiming that the Tatars are the original inhabitants of the Crimea and who will do anything to defend them. Istanbul thus enters the scene of an international crisis that takes place in the Black Sea and where the Turkish presence is likely to make things worse. Turkey is in fact a member, and strategically crucial for NATO , which could be invoked directly from the article four of the treaty into force . In recent days, there have been alarming signs of what could happen : Eight Turkish F-16s took off to intercept a Russian spy plane very close to the airspace of Istanbul. It should be remembered also that the domestic political situation in the country is very unstable turkish for the scandals that have embarrassed the government , they are responsible for people very close to President Erdogan , for the highest office in Turkey the opportunity to defend the Tatars would be a means to divert the attention of the internal problems and reopen the route he intended to lead to Istanbul international prestige on Muslim countries. The negative potential of the involvement of Turkey is therefore twofold: on the one hand, membership in NATO could be exploited by the U.S. to threaten a direct intervention in the Black Sea , on the other hand the raising of the alert level of the Turkish armed forces , very good armed , raises the likelihood of an accident whose consequences could produce explosive situations . The question then Tatar must not be underestimated by Russia in action in the Crimea and in general overall view of the terrorist threat : a Muslim ethnicity penalizing treatment could promote the development of the reasons , first of fundamentalism , then Islamic terrorism in this part of the territory , which could become part of Russia, as well as being destabilizing to the Crimea itself , whatever its future.