Russia refuses to move Crimean journalist Remzi Bekirov closer to home

Remzi Bekirov. Photo by Crimean Solidarity

The Punishment Execution and Special Accounting Department of Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service once again refused to move citizen journalist Remzi Bekirov from the Khakassia penal colony No. 33 (IK-33) to a prison closer to his home, to Crimea, reports "Crimean Solidarity", citing the journalist's wife Khalide Bekirova. She received the refusal from the department's deputy head Alexei Kuvshinov.

According to him, there are "no grounds" for moving Bekirov or "circumstances that would prevent the journalist from continuing to serve his term" in IK-33. The FPS representative noted that the political prisoner was "convicted of crimes outlined in Articles 205.5 and 278 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation" and that the place where he should serve the sentence "is determined in accordance with part 4 of Article 73 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation." The article says that those convicted of terrorism are sent to penal institutions decided by the FPS.

"The right to be moved to another penal institution, located closer to the place of residence of the convict's relatives, can be executed by those sent to serve a term according to parts 1, 2, 3 of Article 73 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation," said Alexei Kuvshinov.

As Khalide Bekirova said, this is the fifth time she applied for her husband's transfer to a colony closer to Crimea.

"Every time I get refusals [from the FSP] for different reasons. Now they have made it clear that they will not move him closer to home. And 5300 kilometers is very far for us. It will be very difficult to travel [on dates] with the children," said the political prisoner's wife.

Since being moved to penal colony No. 33, Ramzi Bekirov has been arbitrarily placed in solitary confinement (SHIZO) many times.

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).

On August 10, 2024, his lawyer Emil Kurbedinov reported that 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).

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.