Human rights advocates: Crimean journalist Remzi Bekirov under pressure in Russian prison

Remzi Bekirov. Photo by Crimean Solidarity

Citizen journalist Remzi Bekirov, who was sentenced to 19 years in prison, is under pressure from the administration of the prison No. 33 in Abakan, Republic of Khakassia (RF), the lawyer Emil Kurbedinov tells Crimean Solidarity.

According to Kurbedinov, since the moment Bekirov was moved to the prison, he has been arbitrarily placed in solitary confinement several times. The prison administration forbids him to write letters or call his relatives.

The lawyer said that Remzi's imprisonment far from home – 4.5 thousand kilometers away – "violates his right to stay in touch with the family." The journalist's loved ones cannot come to see him, because it is physically difficult and expensive.

Kurbedinov also stressed that the climate in Khakassia is very different from the warm climate in Crimea, which "is becoming a serious challenge for the journalist's health."

"In fact, this is a form of exile that was widely practiced against the intelligentsia in Russia's recent history," added Emil Kurbedinov.

In August 2024, Remzi Bekirov was moved from the pre-trial detention center in Krasnoyarsk (Russia) to penal colony No. 33 in Abakan (the capital of the Republic of Khakassia).

Who is Remzi Bekirov

Remzi Bekirov is a citizen journalist who livestreamed searches and trials in politically motivated cases against the residents of Crimea, in particular in the cases of Veciye Qaşqa, the detention of the UOC priest Klyment, the "Hizb ut-Tahrir" case, etc. Remzi Bekirov initiated the idea of ​​collective assistance to the families of Crimean political prisoners. Has three underage children.

In March 2019, Russian security forces in Crimea searched the homes of Crimean Tatar activists, most of whom are Crimean Solidarity representatives. Remzi Bekirov was one of them.

25 Crimean Tatar activists were accused of involvement in the Islamic political party "Hizb ut-Tahrir", outlawed in Russia as a terrorist organization, but legal without restrictions in many countries across the globe.

Remzi Bekirov was charged under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for organizing the activities of a terrorist organization.

On March 10, 2022, the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced the human rights activist Remzi Bekirov to 19 years in prison.