Ukrainian activist Bekirov was sentenced to seven years in prison in Crimea
The so-called "Central District Court of Simferopol", controlled by the occupying country, sentenced Ukrainian activist, former political prisoner Edem Bekirov, to seven years in a maximum-security penal colony and a fine of 150,000 rubles (55,000 hryvnias).
It was announced by the Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmila Denisova.
According to her, Edem Bekirov was accused in the fabricated case of allegedly "storing and transporting explosives".
"I consider the trial against Edem Bekirov, a disabled person of the first group who has chronic diseases, including diabetes and spinal neurology, a continuation of the political persecution of Ukrainian citizens by the occupying country", - Denisova wrote.
She also condemned the actions of the Russian authorities and appealed to the international community to continue to put pressure on Russia to end the political persecution of Ukrainian citizens and release all those illegally detained in Russia and the temporarily occupied Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
As Bekirov's lawyer Oleksiy Ladin told Suspilne, the defence will appeal the court verdict in the near future. According to him, the defence asked for an acquittal, and the prosecutor's office asked for a sentence of 4 years in prison.
"This sentence will be appealed. We consider the case to be falsified by the FSS and Bekirov's actions do not constitute a crime. In addition, due to his health condition, the same judge at one time revoked the pre-trial detention. Therefore, the defence stipulates that he cannot, even theoretically, serve a sentence of imprisonment, as his illness is on the list of those that prevent him from being detained", - the lawyer stressed.
What is known
- On May 14, 2020, the occupation court of Simferopol resumed consideration of the criminal case against the Crimean Tatar activist Edem Bekirov.
- He was detained by Russian security forces at the entrance to Crimea on the morning of December 12, 2018. It is known that he went to Crimea to visit his 78-year-old mother and relatives.
- On September 7, 2019, Ukrainian Edem Bekirov, illegally detained in Crimea since 2018, returned to Ukraine as part of the Ukrainian-Russian exchange of detainees.
- According to lawyer Alexei Ladin, Bekirov is suspected of committing a crime under Article 222 Part 2 and 222.1 Part 2 of the Criminal Code (storage and transfer of explosives and ammunition).
