The Crimean Tatar Resource Center continues to talk about family persecution in occupied Crimea and today we want to share with you the story of the Hulsum Seidametova family, from whom the Russian occupiers took two sons Ernest and Enver Seytosmanov.
On May 10, 2018, in occupied Crimea, Russian security forces conducted a search in the house of two siblings, Ernest Seytosmanov and Enver Seytosmanov. The first was released after interrogation, and Enver was arrested on suspicion of involvement in the Hizb-ut-Tahrir organization banned in Russia. On December 5, 2019, he was sentenced to 17 years in a maximum security colony with restriction of freedom for a year.
Ernest Seytosmanov was arrested after Russian searches in February 2022. He was also accused of involvement in the Hizb-ut-Tahrir organization banned in Russia. And on May 24, 2023, Ernest Seytosmanov was sentenced to 18 years in a maximum security colony. In November 2023, the occupiers reduced the sentence by 6 months.
Of course, the accusations of the Russian repressive machine have traditionally been based on fabricated evidence: the conclusions of biased experts completely dependent on the Russian occupiers, the testimony of “law enforcement officers” and “hidden witnesses” who say only what they were ordered to, but immediately “float” when they are asked substantive questions.
So, 2 searches, 2 criminal cases, 34 years and 6 months in a maximum security colony for 2 brothers? Isn’t it too much repression for one family?
We believe and know that justice will be restored very soon and one day all the prisoners from this family will definitely return home, and the occupiers will be responsible for the persecution and repression committed against each family member.