On March 28, about 35 activists came to Independence Square in Kyiv in support ATR TV channel, a Crimean Tatar station in danger of being shut down by the Russian authorities in Crimea. They stood silently, some with mouths taped shut, holding posters. After that they sang national anthems of Ukraine and Crimean Tatar people.Human rights activist and columnist Halya Coynash said that ATR TV channel, which she described as the world's only Crimean Tatar station, could be shut down by April 1. Coynash said that the channel is not on the list of media outlets being re-registered for business by Russian regulatory body Roskomnadzor.Coynash said that other media under threat include the children’s Crimean Tatar TV channel Lyalya and radio station Meidan FM, as well as the Internet site 15 minutes; the official newspaper of the Mejlis, or Crimean Tatar representative assembly ‘Avdet’; the children’s educational journal Armanchyk, and QHA – the Crimean News Agency or «Kırım haber ajansı»).She said that ATR has been holding a marathon action called "Don’t destroy ATR” since March 25 in hopes of receiving registration by March 31.
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