KIEV, Sept. 16 – A little-known Crimean Tatar organization Tuesday asked Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to protect this ethnic group from “discrimination” and “genocide” by the Ukrainian authorities, triggering an angry rebuke from mainstream Crimean Tatar groups.

At least 14 Crimean Tatar groups signed a petition on Tuesday denouncing the letter by Milli Firka, a little-known group that has been seeking Moscow help, and demanded that Russia must stay away from any involvement.