No one is spared in occupied Crimea. People regardless of age and gender are subjected to repression: men, women, young and old, as well as minors.
As we know, young people in Ukraine have always been the engine of change, who have defended and are now defending the values of democracy and freedom, including in occupied Crimea. Unfortunately, young people are subjected to terrible repressions on the peninsula for their active civic position.
According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Centre, 23 young people have been subjected to political persecution by the occupation authorities, 19 of whom are representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people, namely:
- Appaz Kurtamet, 21 years old
The guy was detained in July 2022 in Novoalekseevka, and on 21 April 2023 he was sentenced to 7 years in prison for lending 500 hryvnias to his acquaintance from the Crimean Battalion.
2.Bohdan Ziza, 29 years old
The guy was accused of violating Article 30 part 3 of the Russian Criminal Code (attempted crime) and Article 167 part 2 (intentional destruction or damage to other people’s property…) for painting the building of the occupation administration of the city of Yevpatoria with the colours of the Ukrainian state flag. A Russian military court sentenced him to 15 years in a general regime colony
3. Lenie Umerova, 26 years old
A Crimean Tatar woman was illegally held in captivity for more than 5 months for spurious reasons and eventually arrested on suspicion of ‘high treason’.
4. Andriy Kolomiets, 31 years old
The guy was sentenced in the summer of 2016 to 10 years in prison for allegedly attempting to assassinate Crimean ‘Berkut’ officers in 2014.
5. Asan Akhtemov, 35 years old
Was detained on 3 September 2021 on charges of blowing up a gas pipeline in the village of Perevalnoye. On 21 September 2022, Asan Akhtemov was awarded 15 years in prison.
6. Dilyaver Gafarov, 28 years old
On 28 August 2019, the occupiers sentenced Dilyaver Gafarov to 10 years in prison for participation in the Noman Chelebidzhikhan volunteer battalion.
7. Eskender Abdulganiev, 27 years old
On 3 November 2020, Eskender Abdulganiev was sentenced to 12 years‘ imprisonment for violating Article 205.5(2) of the Russian Criminal Code (’participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation”). He was accused of allegedly participating in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir organization.
8. Aziz Akhtemov, 28 years old
The guy was detained on 3 September 2021 on charges of blowing up a gas pipeline in the village of Perevalnoe. On 21 September 2022, Aziz Akhtemov was sentenced to 13 years’ imprisonment.
9. Alim Karimov, 30 years old
On 11 January 2023, Alim Karimov was sentenced to 12 years‘ imprisonment for violating Article 205.5(2) of the Criminal Code (’participation in the activities of a terrorist organization”). He was accused of allegedly participating in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. .
11. Albert Kruglov, 24 years old
12. Enver Krosh, 33 years old
13. Artur Memetshaev, 34 years old
14. Arsen Memetshaev, 28 years old
15. Ablyamed Memetshaev, 25 years old
16. Kirill Barannik, 26 years old
17. Abdulmedzhit Seitumerov, 24 years old
18. Ayder Asanov, 31 years old
20. Alim Sufyanov, 34 years old
21. Osman Seytumerov, 31 years old
22. Raim Ayvazov, 30 years old
23. Refat Alimov, 33
We consider these persecutions illegal, politically motivated and criminal. This policy of the occupiers is aimed at intimidation to force proactive youth to leave the peninsula.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Centre strongly protests and demands the immediate release of all political prisoners and bringing to justice those involved in the persecution of Ukrainian citizens.
PS According to the Law of Ukraine ‘On Promotion of Social Formation and Development of Youth in Ukraine’, youth are considered to be citizens between the age of 14 and 35.