On 12 October, political prisoner Oleksandr Sizikov, a defendant in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case, turned 40 years old. This is the first birthday that Sizikov spent in the pre-trial detention center, where he and other defendants in this case were illegally placed by the occupation ‘authorities’.
The staff of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center sincerely congratulate Oleksandr Sizikov on his anniversary. We wish you a speedy return to your family, good health, patience and indestructible fortitude. May your life be filled with prosperity and happiness, as well as a peaceful sky!
CTRC reminds that Oleksandr Sizikov was arrested on 7 July 2020 as a result of mass searches and unfounded charges in the case of ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’. In addition to him, six other people were arrested and sent to pre-trial detention centres. Due to complete loss of vision, Sizikov was initially placed under house arrest.
However, on 13 September 2024, the rf military court of appeals ruled that Oleksandr Sizikov could serve his sentence in a correctional institution, which is a violation of fundamental human rights.
We emphasise that by these actions the rf violates the right of a political prisoner to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. Moreover, according to Russian law, seriously ill people should be released from detention, as human life is the highest value, and the sentence should not become a death sentence.
We demand that the Russian Federation immediately release Oleksandr Sizikov and all other political prisoners, as well as stop systemic human rights violations in occupied Crimea.