“Until February 2022, we never truly understood how crucial it was to protect our cultural heritage. But when we saw the countless museums and monuments destroyed, the irreplaceable elements of our heritage lost forever, we began to realize their significance. They’re not just important for shaping our Ukrainian identity but also for comprehending why Russia wages this war, why it seeks to destroy Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars.”
Elmira Ablyalimova, current project manager at the USAID/ENGAGE partner, the Crimean Institute of Strategic Studies, and former director of the Bakhchisaray Historical and Cultural Reserve, has firsthand experience of the destructive impact of Russia’s aggression from spring 2014. With Russia’s occupation of the Crimean Peninsula, she witnessed the deliberate destruction of the cultural identity of Crimean Tatars, the indigenous people of Crimea, and Ukrainians.
In January 2015, Elmira’s husband, the deputy head of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis and a key figure in resisting Russia’s occupation, was arrested. During the same period, occupiers initiated what they termed as “restoration works” on the grounds of the Bakhchisaray Palace, which stands as the world’s sole example of Crimean Tatar palace architecture. However, under the guise of restoration works, Russia instead initiated a plan to degrade the palace, stripping it of its historical and scientific importance, and its overall complexity.
“The existence of such a cultural heritage site challenges the propagandistic “Krymnash” (Crimea is ours) ideology. Therefore, preserving it is essential to counter Russian imperial narratives. It is evidence of our rights and aspirations for these territories,“ believes Elmira.
In 2017, Elmira was forced to leave Bakhchisaray and relocate to Kyiv, where she joined the Crimean Institute of Strategic Studies (CISS) as a project manager. Drawing upon her expertise, Elmira dedicated herself to safeguarding Ukraine’s cultural heritage and combating Russia’s propaganda narratives, significantly contributing to CISS’s mission.
Established in 2014, the Crimean Institute of Strategic Studies plays a prominent role in supporting the Crimean Tatar community, promoting Crimea’s reintegration with Ukraine and its path toward European integration, and documenting crimes against cultural heritage sites in Crimea. Upon partnering with USAID/ENGAGE in 2023, CISS expanded its efforts to document Russia’s crimes in other temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, including Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Since April 2023, the organization has documented over 600 new violations against Ukrainian cultural heritage, including the Illegal export of cultural treasures, object misappropriation, unauthorized archaeological research, and various other substantial breaches of international law. Each of these instances has been recorded on the organization’s website. In partnership with USAID/ENGAGE, CISS has enhanced its platform with new, user-friendly features and an English translation, expanding its reach to raise global awareness about these critical issues.
“We unite the efforts of international humanitarian law experts, historians, and conservationists, pooling diverse expertise to provide thorough and expert coverage of crimes against cultural heritage,“ says Elmira Ablyalimova.
Under Elmira’s supervision, the organization intensified its efforts to raise awareness about the challenges facing Ukraine’s cultural heritage globally, emphasizing the ongoing need for documentation and advocacy in this field. With the support of USAID/ENGAGE, the CISS organized a roundtable discussion titled “Cultural Heritage of War-Affected Ukraine“ at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris in December 2023, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Attended by approximately 30 country delegations and prominent organizations such as USAID and PAX, the roundtable facilitated crucial discussions and collaborations on the status and protection of Ukraine’s cultural heritage in areas affected by temporary occupation.
Through collaboration with USAID/ENGAGE, the CISS has developed numerous practical guides, assessments of global and regional legal practices, manuals, and interactive resources, specifically designed for prosecutors, law enforcement professionals, and civil society. These resources are designed to support other organizations and individuals interested in protecting Ukraine’s cultural heritage, encouraging, and inspiring more people and civic actors to get involved in preserving cultural treasures.
“Collaborating with diverse civil society organizations and initiatives is essential for us. We are more productive when we work together with our colleagues,” says Elmira.
With new round of institutional support from USAID/ENGAGE, CISS aims to broaden its efforts by documenting violations against Ukraine’s cultural heritage, launch campaigns to highlight its significance and the impact of the Russia’s aggression, and advocate for its preservation and restoration nationally, including legislative initiatives.
“As Ukraine is striving to form a cohesive political identity, the preservation of cultural heritage, notably that of the Crimean Tatars, emerges as a fundamental aspect of this endeavor, underscoring the nation’s commitment to inclusivity and unity,” believes Elmira.