On December 17, 2019, a citizen of Ukraine Denys Kashuk, born February 17, 1979, permanently residing in the city of Simferopol in the temporarily occupied Crimea with his wife and son and working in a company specializing in outdoor advertising, went missing. His wife turned to the so-called police due to the disappearance of her husband, after which the task force arrived at her dwelling. They withdrew a photograph and a man’s toothbrush for DNA testing. The next day, FSB officers ransacked the dwelling, seized equipment and documents, and reported that Denys Kashuk was suspected of making explosives. On December 19, it became known that Denys Kashuk was being held in the FSB department in Simferopol.
Denys was detained by FSB officers in Simferopol on suspicion of committing a crime under Articles 222 and 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of weapons, their main parts, ammunition). According to his relatives, on the night of December 19-20, 2019, he was questioned as a suspect. A so-called first hearing on the election of a preventive measure was scheduled for December 19, but was subsequently rescheduled for December 20.
On December 20, the so-called Kyiv District Court of Simferopol chose a measure of restraint in the form of detention until February 18, 2020. The place of detention was determined to be a pre-trial detention center.
According to his relatives, Denys was subjected to physical and psychological coercion and torture, due to which he could sign all the documents proposed by the so-called investigators. In addition, he constantly refused to contact his defenders even at the stage of admitting a lawyer to him. At the request of the detainee, the so-called trial was closed.
The official position of the occupying power structures regarding the detention of Denys Kashuk is still absent.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center expresses a strong protest and states that this decision of the occupying authorities of Crimea is illegal and criminal.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center considers that in this case the inalienable human right to freedom and integrity, judicial protection and fair trial was violated.
The Russian Federation illegally uses its legislation for political purposes, in particular, with the aim of suppressing alternative opinions and political positions.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center calls on the international community, international human rights organizations to increase pressure on the Russian Federation and the occupation power of Crimea, in order to end political persecution and cancel the previous so-called court decisions.
Press Service of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center