In Russia, five Crimean Tatars from the Dzhankoy District were sentenced to 14–20 years in prison
The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don has handed down sentences to five Crimean Tatars from the temporarily occupied Crimea. The trial was conducted under an expedited procedure, and the defendants received prison terms ranging from 14 to 20 years.
This was reported by Crimean Solidarity.
Imam Remzi Kurtneziorov was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Nariman Ametov received 15 years, Enver Khalilaev – 14.5 years, and Vokhid Mustafayev and Ali Mamutov – 14 years each.
According to the defendants’ relatives, the court unexpectedly rushed the proceedings and effectively moved from closing arguments to sentencing in a single day.
Remzi Kurtnezir’s daughter, Emine Islyamova, said that the hearings were held in an extremely rushed manner. According to her, the lawyer had reported that the hearing was still ongoing that afternoon, but by evening news of the sentencing had already emerged. Relatives and activists did not have time to arrive at the court, as had been the case during previous trials.
Remzi Kurtnezir, the former imam of the mosque in the village of Lobanovo, has suffered three strokes and a craniotomy, and has diabetes and hypertension. Due to his disability and paralysis of the right side of his body, he was under house arrest.
His relatives also reported that while in the hospital for a forensic psychiatric evaluation, he lost 12 kilograms. Kurtneziriv will remain at home until his appeal is heard.
Crimean Tatar activists state that previously, the dates of sentencing were announced in advance so that relatives and support groups could attend the court proceedings. Now, according to them, trials are increasingly being conducted in an expedited and closed-door manner.
Human rights activists believe this is being done to minimize public outcry and limit expressions of solidarity with the Crimean Tatars.
As a reminder, Crimean Tatar Eskender Kudusov was released from captivity.
We reported that another prisoner exchange took place between Ukraine and Russia under the “157 for 157” formula.
Ukraine carried out a new prisoner exchange, in which 157 Ukrainians—both military personnel and civilians—returned home. Among those released were soldiers from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, and the State Border Guard Service.
