RUSSIAN FEDERATION：
CRIMEAN TATAR EDEM BEKIROV FINALLY FREE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Edem Bekirov is a member of the ethnic Crimean Tatar minority in Ukraine. Part of his family still live in the Crimean peninsula, which was occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014. On 12 December 2018, Edem Bekirov was visiting his mother and relatives in Crimea when he was detained by Russian security forces. Following his arrest, Edem Bekirov was subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, did not receive medical assistance or food or water for two days, and has had his right to a fair trial violated. He has been accused of possession and transfer of explosives and ammunition. These charges are often reported used by Russian law enforcement authorities to target individuals arbitrarily, particularly in the context of politically-motivated prosecution. Edem Bekirov maintains his innocence.

Since the occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014, Amnesty International has documented the systematic persecution of members of the Crimean Tatar community by Russian authorities (see for instance In the dark: The silencing of dissent). Edem Bekirov’s case has gained international attention and has been raised publicly alongside that of other Crimean Tatars by international organisations as the Council of Europe and the European Union.

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: English and Russian.
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 12 July 2019
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Edem Bekirov is a member of the ethnic Crimean Tatar minority in Ukraine. Part of his family still live in the Crimean Peninsula, which was occupied and annexed by Russia in 2014. On 12 December 2018, Edem Bekirov was visiting his mother and relatives in Crimea when he was detained by Russian security forces. Following his arrest, Edem Bekirov was subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, did not receive medical assistance or food or water for two days, and his right to a fair trial was violated. He has been accused of possession and transfer of explosives and ammunition. These charges are often reportedly used by Russian law enforcement officials to target individuals arbitrarily, particularly in the context of politically-motivated prosecution. Edem Bekirov maintains his innocence.

Since the occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014, Amnesty International has documented the systematic persecution of members of the Crimean Tatar community by Russian authorities (see for instance In the dark: The silencing of dissent). Edem Bekirov’s case has been publicly raised on several occasions by the European Union. On 11 June 2019, it was reported that the European Court of Human rights had granted interim measures in favour of Edem Bekirov, under Rule 39 of its Rules of Court, urging the Russian State to transfer him to a hospital due to his deteriorating health. Interim measures are granted on an exceptional basis to prevent serious and irreversible harm and although they are provided for only in the Rules of Court and not in the European Convention on Human Rights, States Parties are under an obligation to comply with them.

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: English and Russian.
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 26 August 2019
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Edem Bekirov (he/him)

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur46/0470/2019/en/