Reshat Ametov, a symbol of the struggle for Crimea, was forcibly abducted 11 years ago

Reshat Ametov became the first victim of the Russian occupation of Crimea.

11 years ago, on March 3, 2014, unknown persons in camouflage uniforms kidnapped him right in the center of Simferopol, where he was holding a solitary protest against the occupation of the peninsula. Twelve days later, on March 15, his body was found in a field near the village of Zemlyanichnoe in Bilohirsk region. There were numerous signs of torture on his body: stab wounds in the area of the left eye, numerous body injuries. His head was wrapped in Scotch tape, his hands were handcuffed. Three children were left without a father.

In April 2014, the so-called “Investigative Committee” of the rf in Crimea opened a criminal case on his murder, but already in 2015 the investigation was stopped. The persons involved in the crime were never identified.

Subsequently, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said that it had received evidence that the so-called Crimean self-defense was involved in Ametov’s abduction and murder. The same opinion was expressed by Eskender Bariiev, a member of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and Chairman of the Board of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center. He noted that Reshat Ametov became a symbol of the struggle for the unity of Ukraine against Russian aggression in 2014.

Unfortunately, this is not an exceptional case.

According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, at least 60 people have died during the occupation of Crimea, 28 of whom are representatives of the Crimean Tatar people. These cases can be divided into the following categories:

– Victims of political repressions – 4 people (3 – Crimean Tatars);
– Victims of discrimination – 13 persons (11 – Crimean Tatars);
– Victims of terror – 30 people (8 Crimean Tatars);
– Victims of police abuse – 13 people (6 Crimean Tatars).

We call on the international community to demand from Russia a fair investigation of these crimes.