Strategy for the cognitive deoccupation of Crimea is a declaration of intent based on the findings of semi-structured in-depth interviews conducted anonymously with 22 professional Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar experts representing various sectors and professional fields (civil servants, media, NGOs, education, strategic communications, social psychology, historical memory, military, identity studies, etc.)
The ultimate goal of the cognitive deoccupation is the value transformation of the perception and life of Crimea and the reintegration of its residents into the Ukrainian socio-political and cultural spaces, as well as the provision of reliable guarantees for human development prospects. Therefore, the cognitive deoccupation of Crimea also involves intensive socio-psychological and intergenerational reintegration work with different groups of Crimean residents, especially with their beliefs, emotions, fears, hopes, expectations, mental attitudes, perceptions, social identities, and other humanitarian and social characteristics that were formed historically under Russian colonial policy and subsequently exacerbated by the occupation of the peninsula in 2014.
The main objective of the Strategy is to provide practical recommendations to stakeholders, authorities and the expert community on the cognitive aspects of deoccupation by highlighting the expected risks and new opportunities for the successful and sustainable reintegration of the population of the Crimean peninsula.