Three years ago, on 3 September 2021, FSB officers detained Nariman Dzhelyalov and cousins Aziz and Asan Akhtemovs on suspicion of complicity in sabotage.
On 21 September 2022 in the ‘Supreme Court of Crimea’ Nariman Dzhelyalov was found guilty of committing a crime under par. ‘a’, “b” of part 2 of article 281 (commission of sabotage by an organised group, causing significant property damage), part 4 of article 222.1 (illegal acquisition, storage and transportation of explosive devices, committed by an organised group), part 4 of article 222.1 (illegal acquisition, storage and transportation of explosive devices, committed by an organised group), part 3 of article 226.1 of the Criminal Code. 3 of article 226.1 of the Criminal Code (illegal transportation of an explosive device across the customs border of the Customs Union within the EurAsEC, committed by an organised group) and imposed a sentence of 17 years’ deprivation of liberty, a fine of 700,000 roubles and restriction of liberty for 1.5 years. On 28 June 2024, he managed to return from Russian captivity to Ukraine.
Asan Akhtemov was found guilty of committing an offence under par.
3 of article 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 EurAsEC, committed by an organised group) and imposed a sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a fine of 500,000 roubles and restriction of liberty for one year.
Aziz Akhtemov was found guilty of committing an offence under par. ‘a’, “b” of part 2 of article 281 (commission of sabotage by an organised group resulting in significant property damage), part 4 of article 222.1 (illegal acquisition, storage and transportation of explosive devices committed by an organised group), part 3 of article 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 EurAsEC, committed by an organised group) and imposed a sentence of 13 years’ imprisonment, a fine of 500,000 roubles and restriction of liberty for one year.
The prosecution in this case is based on the ‘testimony’ of Asan and Aziz Akhtemov, which was obtained by the FSB officers as a result of torture. The activists are accused of ‘committing sabotage on the gas pipeline in the village of Perevalnoe on 23 August 2021’. In fact, the real reason for the prosecution is the participation of Nariman Dzhelyalov in the founding Summit of the Crimea Platform on 23 August 2021.
The consideration of the ‘case’ was held in gross violation of international law. ‘Defendants’ were systematically infringed 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 treatment. 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, has no right to extend its criminal legislation in the occupied territory of Crimea.
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 fight against dissent, as well as religious and political beliefs of people in occupied Crimea. In addition, the decision of the ‘Supreme Court of Crimea’ demonstrates the ongoing repression and pressure on the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.
The Russian Federation is misusing 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 Centre demands the cancellation of the sentences of Asan and Aziz Akhtemov and the immediate release of other political prisoners.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Centre calls on the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to stop political persecution in Crimea, and to impose personal sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations in Crimea.