«The decision to deport Crimean Tatars from Crimea was not fair, although it reflected the harsh conditions of war.» On July 23, 1987, a scandalous TASS statement was published, causing a storm of indignation and a new wave of protests by Crimean Tatars who were fighting for their return to their homeland at that time. The statement repeated accusations of «collaboration with the German fascist occupiers» and «extermination of residents.» Based on materials from historian G. Bekirova.