 |
|
Natalia Poklonskaya at her desk
|
Poklonskaya's Story:
Crimea's Leading Lady Recounts a Busy Two Years
21:01
16.03.2016(updated 18:33 18.03.2016)
Two
years after a referendum that cemented Crimea's reunification with Russia,
Natalia Poklonskaya became the republic's prosecutor after the Kiev-appointed
man defected, and became an iconic symbol of a new Crimea in a turbulent time.
Now she shares her story and reveals what has changed.
 |
|
Natalia Poklonskaya
|
On
the anniversary of Crimea's referendum for independence
from Ukraine and request to become a part of Russia, Natalia Poklonskaya, who famously ran the prosecutor's office in that
turbulent time told RIA Novosti in an
interview about her views on the events and what has changed
since then.
Natalia, how did the Crimean
Spring begin?
The
starting point of the events was the heroism of soldiers of the
Crimean "Berkut" [Ukrainian police special forces], who stood
as a human shield on the Maidan, facing bullets and Molotov
cocktails. They made the Crimean people to believe in themselves,
straighten their shoulders and repel fascism, which was spreading rapidly
across the country. Berkut is a symbol of the unbroken Crimean
spirit, as they remained true to their principles to the end,
and stood with the Crimean people at a difficult time.
 |
|
Prosecutor of Crimea Natalia Poklonskaya in her office in
Simferopol.
|
Do you keep anything as a memento
of those times?
My
Ukrainian prosecutor's uniform, in which I was presented
as the republic's prosecutor by Crimean government head Sergey
Aksyonov.
Were you ever in any danger?
Back
then, there was no time to be afraid. Those afraid of wolves do go
not into the woods. We do our job, carry out our duty, protect
out homeland, so let them fear us.
Has Crimea gotten closer
to international recognition over the past two years?
Crimea
and Hero City Sevastopol have always been Russian. They have long been
recognized, but some are shy to say this out loud.
Hundreds
of foreign delegations and missions visited the peninsula
after reunification with Russia. If they're coming, it means they
recognize it.
There are repeated proposals,
including from the West to hold a second referendum. Do you allow
for that possibility?
Crimeans
have made their choice, they said "We are Russia." Therefore, there
is no necessity to prove this a second time. We could carry out the
referendum for a second time, a third, and again the West would not
like the result, as Crimeans would again unconditionally choose their
paternal home, Russia. Where is the guarantee that someone will recognize the
results of such a referendum?
Poklonskaya also talked about how her job had changed in the two years since Ukraine left Crimea, a phrase used by some locals to describe that period of the republic's history.
How has work of the Crimean prosecutor's office changed over the past two years?
We
received colossal powers for monitoring compliance with federal
legislation when it comes to protection of small and medium-sized
businesses. We can participate in the lawmaking life of the republic,
introducing bills to the parliament. Special units have shown themselves
combating extremism and terrorism. They operate at full power, it can be
said, 200 percent.
 |
|
Crimean prosecutor Natalya Poklonskaya
|
How is the crime situation?
Crime
has not grown over the past two years. With regard to serious
and very serious crimes, there is actually a decrease. However, in the
summer, there is an increase in the number of thefts and robberies
in resort towns, mainly due to the "touring" criminals
coming from Ukraine, as well as other Russian regions.
Frequently, it is the theft of purses and break-ins into cars.
How do you fight "werewolves
in epaulets" [Russian equivalent of "dirty cops"]?
We
ask the courts for stricter punishments. Demands are several times
stronger for those who guard the law. In the past year, we prosecuted
29 law enforcement officers on suspicion of committing a number
of crimes, including corruption.
 |
|
Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation, Yuri
Chaika, hands the Russian Prosecutor’s office ID card to acting Prosecutor of
Crimea, Natalia Poklonskaya.
|
Poklonskaya has a personal attachment to Crimean reunification, which happened to occur on her birthday.
Your birthday, March 18, coincided
with the reunification of Crimea with Russia. How do you feel
about that?
For
me, it's happiness and pride. Not only was my dream fulfilled and we returned
home, and live in a wonderful, most magnificent and best country, a great
power, in Russia, but it happened on my birthday at that.
Of course, I'm the happiest person. It's impossible to put these feelings
into words.
Are you given memorable gifts?
I
get cards with kind words, poems, flowers from different places, not
only in Russia. Once, I received a delivery of a huge bouquet
of 200 roses that was impossible to even grasp. I forbade people
to give me gifts, only [religious] icons and flowers.
How did you tell when a person is
lying and when they are telling the truth?
My
experience as a prosecutor helps me. It allows me to look
at people like an open book, but I will not reveal that secret,
so that no one happens to think that they can now fool me [smiles].
 |
|
Natalia Poklonskaya at a Press Conference (11 March 2014)
[PHOTO SOURCE: https://www.knightstemplarinternational.com/video-she-could-prosecute-us-any-day-seven-facts-about-crimeas-blonde-bombshell-prosecutor-general/#]
Natalia
Poklonskaya's interview for lifenews with english subtitles
|
No comments:
Post a Comment