Cheburek, a thin, deep-fried pocket of cheese, meat or mushrooms are a best seller at Musafir. The Tatar restaurant has become an asylum-seeker of sorts in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Morgan Childs for NPR
In the language of the Crimean Tatars, the word musafir means “guest.” It’s also the name of one of Crimea’s most popular restaurants. But that name took on added significance when the Tatar outpost relocated to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev in May of last year.
According to Sorina Seitvelieva, who owns the restaurant with her sister-in-law, Emine Emirsalieva, Musafir was forced to cease operations in the Crimean city of Bakhchyserai after Russia orchestrated an armed takeover of Crimea in March of 2014. The restaurant was closed just as the pair were opening Musafir’s second location in mainland Ukraine.
Cheburek, a thin, deep-fried pocket of cheese, meat or mushrooms are a best seller at Musafir. The Tatar restaurant has become an asylum-seeker of sorts in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
Morgan Childs for NPR
In the language of the Crimean Tatars, the word musafir means “guest.” It’s also the name of one of Crimea’s most popular restaurants. But that name took on added significance when the Tatar outpost relocated to the Ukrainian capital of Kiev in May of last year.
According to Sorina Seitvelieva, who owns the restaurant with her sister-in-law, Emine Emirsalieva, Musafir was forced to cease operations in the Crimean city of Bakhchyserai after Russia orchestrated an armed takeover of Crimea in March of 2014. The restaurant was closed just as the pair were opening Musafir’s second location in mainland Ukraine.
