Harassed over Ukrainian sports uniform: The son of a Crimean political prisoner reflects on growing up under russia-controlled Crimea

Ilias Sheikhisliamov, the son of a political prisoner, public figure, member of the NGO “Crimean Tatars of Odesa Region”, recently shared his experiences of growing up under russian occupation in Crimea. Reflecting on the challenges he faced, Ilias recalled an incident involving a Ukrainian sports uniform that caused trouble with the local authorities.

In 2015, Ilias, a young boy at the time, wore his father’s Ukrainian sports uniform while walking through the village. He described the moment when the head of the village council stopped him, questioning his choice of attire. “I had been wearing this uniform for years, and no one had ever said anything about it,” Ilias explained. “But she asked me, ‘What are you doing? What are you wearing?’ I wondered if something had changed.” When he pressed her for an explanation, she replied, “You know you don’t have to do that.” Unfazed, Ilias asked her why he shouldn’t wear it, to which she responded, “You’re a smart kid, why are you doing this?” Ilias, standing his ground, simply stated, “It’s just my clothes. I like them, and I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

After the encounter, the village council head reported the incident to Ilias’ grandmother. Ilias’s family, staunchly pro-Ukrainian since the russian occupation, had always faced pressure under the oppressive regime.

In the wake of the occupation, Ilias switched schools, enrolling in a Crimean Tatar national school, which, despite the russian control, maintained a pro-Ukrainian stance. He also recalled how his father, in 2014, had installed a satellite dish and banned russian television, calling it a “brainwashing box” that distorted reality.

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