“In May 2016, a wave of mass arrests took place in the city of Bakhchisaray. It was the first time in the city. They conducted searches in the houses of well-known people. On that day, my husband informed the local population that the houses of some Crimean Tatars were being searched. They instituted an administrative case against him for organizing an unauthorized rally. The authorities call these spontaneous gatherings of people near the houses - unauthorized rallies."

This was the first hint for the Saliev family. Seyran was fined. In the winter of 2017, security officers came to the house again.

“The children were crying a lot then. Security officers turned the house upside down. When I asked them, What are you looking for? Why did you come? They don’t read the resolution to you, they explain nothing to you, they just say: we are looking for weapons. So, they were looking for weapons in my children’s backpacks, diapers, and in my science books. They were looking for banned books. Banned books are weapons.”

Source: Facebook / Mumine Salieva

After 12 days of administrative arrest, Seyran Saliev was released. More than a hundred Crimean Tatars met him there. Mumine recalls that even after his arrest, the man did not change his mind.

He stressed we did nothing wrong. So, as we defended our people, we would defend. In a few weeks, the couple became parents for the fourth time. A few months later, after the birth of their daughter, the FSB visited again.

“October 2017. The same scenario, the same familiar loud banging at the door. When you run and know where the clothes are for such cases. Children who already subconsciously react to this sound. And the mother-in-law cries because she understands it will be irreversible. The same actions when security officers and an investigator come in. They turn everything upside down. And my husband is on the floor in handcuffs.”

Seyran Saliev was accused of involvement in the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, which is banned in Russia, and sentenced to 16 years in prison.

“Unequivocally, it is intimidation of the people. Because, in fact, Crimean Tatars are a voice that covers the political processes taking place in Crimea today. By doing so, they are simply trying to silence us.”

The pre-trial investigation into Seyran’s case lasted two years. And one and a half of them - Mumine did not see her husband. The woman calls such actions moral pressure, not only on the prisoner but also on the family. She remembers how they met.

Source: Facebook / Mumine Salieva

“And in a year and a half, you are given this first meeting - three hours. It is very difficult to explain how it feels when you see your loved one in gray clothes, handcuffed. Morally difficult. And then the transfer from Crimea to Rostov-on-Don ”.

Mumine says Seyran defended his right to make phone calls once a month. And he writes letters to each member of the family - personally. Here is an excerpt from one of Seyran Saliev’s letters to his wife:

“Peace and blessings of the Most High to you, sultana of my heart, my life companion! How are my children? How is their health? How are they doing at school? How is the health of our parents? What is the situation of my people? ”

During the seven years of annexation of Crimea, 231 Ukrainians were imprisoned. Most of them are Crimean Tatars.