CEMAAT media continues to follow the single struggle of 71-year-old Rustem Useinov against the occupiers in Crimea. Following this link, you can read the story of the destruction of the old Ay-Serez, which descendants tried to revive in independent Ukraine, but the Russian occupiers destroyed once again.

Rustem-aga was the only one who did not submit to the Russian authorities and set up a construction trailer in which he lived with his two dogs, tending the fig orchard he had been growing for two decades. On the eve of the holiday, during the great fasting month of Ramadan, the occupiers destroyed this pensioner's home along with his belongings.

“You think only the occupiers do this. Of course, it was the Russians who did it, but the most active were the grandson of tanker Abduraman, Eldar (Eldar Osmanov, deputy head of the Sudak occupation administration - Ed.), local imam Mustafa and district police officer Ablyamit. The driver of the truck that loaded my trailer is also one of ours. I wanted to wake him up and said: “In the evening you will brag to your parents that today you ruined the life of a fellow countryman,” but his answer did not surprise me: “If I don't work, who will feed my family?”

Rustem-aga gives personal characteristics of the Crimean Tatar collaborators whom Russians are accusing of intimidation and participation in repressions.

“Eldar works with perseverance. The guy is advancing, he must have big plans. Imam Mustafa, probably, would not do this on his own, but he is in the muftiate system, you know whose organization this is. Ablyamit, the district police officer, does everything according to the protocol. Everyone has their own explanation and their own truth.”

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Rustem-aga has been sleeping in his old car for two weeks now. He gave his word not to leave his parents' land until he is expelled by force. So far, he has not been able to find the right tent, like those used by tourists, to have double protection from the weather and mosquitoes. In the end, he bought an ordinary two-person tent, which he has already installed but has not yet used.

“During the holidays (Ramadan), I had a lot of visitors and now they are still coming, so we can say the holiday is not over, but I haven't slept in the tent yet. I need to buy pillows and a blanket. When I do, I will settle in it.”

After Rustem Useinov was deprived of the last roof over his head and the area was cleared of the Crimean Tatar settlement, surveyors have already visited the site twice. They measured something. Rustem-aga says that a sewer pipe of a neighboring boarding house runs under the local land. The pipes have long since rotted away, and the specialists have probably drafted some reconstruction work.

“Deputy Eldar (Eldar Osmanov - Ed.), when confiscating the trailer, said frankly: “Go somewhere else, everything has been decided here.” I think he had some kind of offer for me, but I showed him my disgust, so he didn't even dare to talk about it.” 

Before the occupation of Crimea, the Almaz boarding house belonged to the Institute of Superhard Materials of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The occupiers gave it to Kadyrov's men. There were more than 4 hectares of land under the boarding house, but the invaders appropriated another 5 hectares of the surrounding wasteland, which is called the “Peach Garden”. The new “owners” decided to establish ties with the local Crimean Tatars because of their common Muslim faith. They also came to visit Rustem-aga.

“They came even before the demolition of our revived village in 2021. I asked them how many times have you been to Crimea? They say it's the first time. That is, you were not here during the time of Ukraine, and now you have come as friends of my enemy to help them appropriate all this. This kind of Islam is not worth a penny. After this conversation, they did not come to the festive prayers or to pick up my figs, which they wanted to take to the Caucasus to their place.”

Rustem-aga explains that the empty land called “Peach Garden” appeared in Soviet times. After the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, Russians planted peaches there, but they withered and died.

“You can't plant a peach 10-20 meters from the sea. It is very delicate. It doesn't like sudden changes in temperature, and the sea wind burns its flowers. Peaches should be hidden behind the hills where the microclimate is different, and figs grow well against the sea. If you don't have knowledge of the area, the land and the stones, you will fail and everything will die.”

Over the past two weeks, the occupiers have been very active. About a thousand cubic meters of crushed stone was unloaded at the former Ay-Serez. This is at least 50 trucks of 25-30 tons each. One can guess what will be built here, because the hotel business has recently become a gold mine for the occupiers, and Moscow gives all the profitable places on the coast to its foot soldiers from the Caucasus.