The owner of the Tatarka chain apologized to the Crimean Tatar people following threats of deportation
Vladimir Biryukov, owner of the “Tatarka” restaurant chain, threatened to deport social media users who criticized the concept and menu of his new restaurant in Odesa.
Leaders of the Crimean Tatar people, public figures, and government officials reacted strongly to this public display of xenophobia.
After the incident gained significant public attention, the restaurateur recorded a video offering a public apology.
The conflict erupted after the “Tatarka: Crimean-Style Chebureki” restaurant opened in Odessa on a trial basis.
Social media users criticized the restaurant for its disrespectful attitude toward Crimean Tatar culture and cuisine, particularly for including pork dishes and alcoholic beverages on the menu.
“I always have questions about your establishments, ‘Tatarka, Crimean Cuisine,’ but Crimean Tatars do not include pork in their diet due to religious beliefs. Yet it’s on your menu. This is either a different cuisine or a different name. It’s unethical,” wrote the author of one of the comments.
Community members accused the business of gastronomic colonialism and distorting the traditions of the indigenous people for profit.
Critics emphasized that authentic Crimean Tatar chebureks and yantiks are never made with pork and cannot serve as a snack to accompany vodka or beer.
“Crimean Tatar cuisine cannot be fast food a priori, and chebureks and yantiks will never be made with pork or served as a snack with vodka or beer. Our cuisine, just like Mexican cuisine, deserves to be protected by UNESCO, not distorted by uneducated businessmen,” they noted on Facebook.
Responding to the discussion, Volodymyr Biryukov left a comment containing explicit threats against dissatisfied customers.
The businessman wrote: “We’re eagerly awaiting the entire nation. Get ready for deportation.” His words sparked outrage among the leadership of the Mejlis and human rights activists.
Refat Chubarov, head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, promptly commented on the remarks made by the owner of the “Tatarka” establishment. He emphasized the gravity of the situation when insults are directed not at an individual but at an entire national community.
“Public threats matter. Especially when they are directed not at individual people, but at an entire people. Recently, a statement by Vladimir Biryukov—owner of “FOP Biryukov Vladimir Yevgenyevich”—appeared on social media. In response to criticism directed at him, he publicly threatened the ‘deportation’ of the Crimean Tatar people,” the official noted.
The President’s Permanent Representative in Crimea, Tamila Tasheva, stated that such statements are a direct insult to national memory.
She recalled that the forced deportation of Crimean Tatars in 1944 has been officially recognized as genocide at the state level.
“In response to criticism and feedback, this individual took the liberty of publicly threatening the Crimean Tatar people with a new deportation. The 1944 deportation was a horrific crime of the communist regime and a recognized genocide that claimed the lives of nearly half of our nation. Today, when our homeland is occupied by the Russians and the indigenous people are once again facing brutal repression, threatening a repeat of the tragedy is a deliberate desecration of memory. We will not allow anyone to mock the victims,” the lawmaker noted.
Ukrainian journalist of Crimean Tatar origin Ayder Muzhdabaev joined the scandal.
He officially appealed to the Security Service of Ukraine and the Office of the Prosecutor General, demanding the opening of criminal proceedings regarding the incitement of ethnic hatred and calls for genocide.
“The indigenous people of Crimea must prepare for the final genocide so as not to interfere with the fake ‘Crimean cuisine’ chain ‘Tatarka’—Crimean-style chebureki—which sells chebureki with pork without question from customers, a dish that has never existed in Crimea,” the journalist wrote in his post.
Later, Volodymyr Biryukov recorded a video message in which he admitted his guilt and apologized to the commenter he had offended, Niyara Yunusova, and to all Crimean Tatars.
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