[3] ATR ran strongly pro-Ukrainian coverage of the events leading up to the 2014 Crimean status referendum that led to the March 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia.
[3] On 26 January 2015 OMON riot police officers blocked the channel's building and conducted searches as part of a criminal investigation into pro-Ukrainian rallies a year before.
[4] Head of the Republic Aksyonov stated on 1 April 2015 "The channel is whipping up tensions and creating a sense of insecurity in the public by raising hopes that Crimea will return to Ukraine.
[4] Amnesty International stated about ATR's shutdown "This blatant attack on freedom of expression, dressed up as an administrative procedure, is a crude attempt to stifle independent media, gag dissenting voices, and intimidate the Crimean Tatar community".
[4] Head of the Republic Aksyonov denied any political agenda behind the refusal of a licence for ATR and stated "They are making mistakes deliberately to create conflict around the channel".