The Southern District Military Court announced the verdict of political prisoner Yaroslav Zhuk and sentenced him to 14 years of imprisonment in a strict regime colony with serving the first 4 years in prison.
We would like to remind that Yaroslav Zhuk was kidnapped in June 2022 in Melitopol, after which he was transported to occupied Crimea, where he was accused of committing an offence under Part 1 of Article 361 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Act of international terrorism”).
It should be noted that the charges in this “case” are based on the testimony of “hidden witnesses” and the conclusion of so-called experts who actively cooperate with the Russian security forces. The consideration of the case took place in flagrant violation of the norms of international law.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Centre strongly protests and declares that this decision is illegal, politically motivated and criminal. This policy of the Russian Federation is a demonstration of the struggle against the political beliefs of citizens in occupied Crimea.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Centre demands the cancellation of the sentence of the defendant in the case and the immediate release of other political prisoners.