Crimea Protects Its Library from Americans

On Thursday, Simferopol residents organized a rally against the deployment of the U.S. diplomatic mission in their town, the capital of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The authorities intend to give Americans the former national library building.

Chairman of the Crimean Supreme Council Oleg Rodivilov (Russian Bloc Party) stated, “This building was constructed in the 19th century, at the expense of Russian Empire noblemen; Taurida Governorate meetings happened here. We will not stay silent and put up with the plans to make this place an outpost of NATO.”

According to Ukrainian law enforcement organizations, dozens of people gathered at the entrance to the former library holding their associations’ flags. The demonstrators chanted, “The library – to the young people,” and demanded that the historic building’s transfer to the foreigners be prevented.

In December of last year, Ukraine and the U.S. signed a strategic partnership charter. According to the charter, the parties will cooperate in defense and security areas, and promote economic, commercial, and energy partnerships. Under the agreement, Ukraine consented to opening an American diplomatic mission in Simpherolol. U.S. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack previously specified that the diplomatic mission would consist of one or two diplomats.

Crimea’s political and social organizations are firmly against opening a U.S. diplomatic mission in Simferopol. The Presidium of the Supreme Council of Crimea will appeal to the President, the Prime Minister, and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada [Supreme Council] of Ukraine, asking them not to deploy the U.S. diplomatic mission in Crimea.

Residents of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea have harbored negative feelings towards the U.S. for a very long time. In November of last year, they didn’t even allow USS Mount Whitney to enter the port at Sevastopol. The ship maneuvered on the outer roadstead for three hours, while more than 250 community representatives waited on shore with signs such as, “No NATO,” “Yankee, Go Home,” “Sevastopol will not be a NATO military base,” and “NATO – hands off Ukraine.”