The article raises the issue of the historical memory of various age and ethnic groups as an important part of their identity. It analyzes the methodological and procedural peculiarities of studying this complex phenomenon within an ethnically diverse community, in region that is also just as diverse in terms of the climate and environment, community types, and the social and professional stratification. Independent sociological research disproves certain sociologists’ attempt to assert that the overwhelming majority of the Crimean population, young adults and students in particular, is opposed to their home region being reunited with Russia. Our studies reveal that not all of these sociologists, despite their claims of professionalism, are in fact capable of properly employing the necessary methods and procedures that are needed to plan, organize, carry out, and analyze a sociological survey. Such semi-professional research is then used by the media for political propaganda. The article lists several examples that show the level of scrupulous attention to every detail that is required from sociologists in order to collect reliable, relevant, and empirically supported data. We also establish that today, efforts must be made to fill in and turn over a new leaf in the book of historical memory, shared by the current and future generations of Crimeans, so that the local youth and students embrace the values of ethnic and religious diversity. And finally, we arrive at the general conclusion that such challenges of the modern age as the reclamation of Crimea, the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria, the immigration issues in the European Union, and the outbreak of xenophobia in the countries that once prided themselves on their tolerance, are symptoms of an overall decline of political and legal culture among the people, as well as a lack of balance, and outright distortions, in the way some young adults perceive socially acceptable behavior, in terms of both day-to-day interactions and social and political practices. As a result, we believe that society should do its utmost to nurture responsible citizens and patriots with an untainted historical memory.

Sociology, Crimea, historical memory, mentality, research sampling, ethnic profile, patriotic upbringing.