have been illegally detained for two years now.
On September 21, 2022, in the Supreme Court of Crimea, Nariman Dzhelyalov was found guilty of committing a crime under paragraphs a, b, part 2 of Art. 281 (commission of sabotage by an organized group, which caused significant property damage), Part 4 of Art. 222.1 (illegal acquisition, storage and transportation of explosive devices committed by an organized group), Part 4 of Art. 222.1 (illegal acquisition, storage and transportation of explosive devices committed by an organized group), Part 3 of Art. 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal transportation of an explosive device across the customs border of the Customs Union within the framework of the EurAsEC, committed by an organized group) and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 17 years, a fine of 700 thousand rubles and restriction of freedom for 1.5 years.
Asan Akhtemov was found guilty of committing a crime under paragraph a, b part 2 of Art. 281 (commission of sabotage by an organized group, which caused significant property damage), Part 4 of Art. 222.1 (illegal acquisition, storage and transportation of explosive devices committed by an organized group), Part 3 of Art. 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal transportation of an explosive device through the customs border of the Customs Union within the framework of the EurAsEC, committed by an organized group) and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 15 years, a fine of 500 thousand rubles and restriction of freedom for a period of 1 year.
Aziz Akhtemov was found guilty of committing a crime under paragraph a, b part 2 of Art. 281 (commission of sabotage by an organized group, which caused significant property damage), Part 4 of Art. 222.1 (illegal acquisition, storage and transportation of explosive devices committed by an organized group), Part 3 of Art. 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal transportation of an explosive device across the customs border of the Customs Union within the framework of the EurAsEC, committed by an organized group) and sentenced to 13 years in prison, a fine of 500 thousand rubles and restriction of freedom for a period of 1 year.
The prosecution in this case is based on the testimonies of Asan and Aziz Akhtemov, which were obtained by the FSB as a result of torture. The activists are accused of committing sabotage on the gas pipeline in the village of Perevalne on August 23, 2021. In fact, the real reason for the persecution is the participation of Nariman Dzhelyalov in the founding Crimean Platform Summit on August 23, 2021.
Consideration of the case took place with a gross violation of international law. The accused were systematically violated in the right to liberty and security of person, the right to a fair trial, the right to an effective remedy, the right to respect for private and family life, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression, were subjected to inhuman and degrading dignity circulation. Also, within the framework of this case, the right to punishment solely on the basis of the law was violated, since the Russian Federation, as an occupying state in accordance with the IV Geneva Convention, does not have the right to extend its criminal legislation to the occupied territory of Crimea.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center strongly protests and states that this decision is illegal, politically motivated and criminal.
Such a policy of the Russian Federation is a demonstration of the fight against dissent, as well as the religious and political beliefs of people in the occupied Crimea. In addition, the decision of the Supreme Court of Crimea testifies to the ongoing repression and pressure on the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.
The Russian Federation unlawfully uses its legislation for political purposes, in particular, to suppress the non-violent struggle of the Crimean Tatars and their protest against the occupation of Crimea, as well as the persecution of members of the representative body of the indigenous people of Crimea – the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center demands the sentences of Nariman Dzhelyalov, Asan and Aziz Akhtemov to be overturned and other political prisoners to be released immediately.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center calls on the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to stop political persecution in Crimea, as well as to impose personal sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations in Crimea.