Russian prison refuses to disclose Crimean journalist Remzi Bekirov's new place of detention

The Yeniseysk prison No. 2 (Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia) refused to inform the wife of the Crimean citizen journalist Remzi Bekirov, where of his new location after being moved to another prison.

The journalist's wife Khalida Bekirova reported this to "Crimean Solidarity".

According to her, in response to her request the acting head of the Yeniseysk prison No. 2 Evgeniy Larin said that the institution would not disclose the transfer destination, citing the law on personal data.

Remzi Bekirov. Photo by Crimean Solidarity

"Persons who have gained access to the personal data must not disclose it to third parties or distribute the personal data without the consent of the data's subject unless otherwise provided by federal law. Given the fact that this person (Remzi Bekirov. – Ed.) in the Prison No. 2 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Krasnoyarsk Krai has not consented, it does not appear possible to provide the information you are asking for," the reply given to Bekirova reads.

It will be recalled that Ramzi Bekirov, previously sentenced to 19 years, informed his wife that he was going to be taken out of prison on July 5. First - to the transit point of forwarding in Krasnoyarsk.

A few months earlier, the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation (FSIN) refused to transfer Bekirov to a colony closer to his home. He wanted to serve his term in the Rostov region of Russia. However, the FSIN said that after February 24, the "response level medium" has been introduced in the penitentiary facilities of eight regions in Russia, including the Don region, so they could not transfer him there. They also refused to move the political prisoner to the neighboring Stavropol Territory, saying that the transfer destination can only be contested after the prisoner is moved there.

Remzi also tried to get the court to count his transfer term as part of his prison term – this way he would end up in a prison as early as March of this year. However, the Eastern District Military Court No 2 in Chita, to which the journalist's lawsuit was addressed, never responded and never approved the deadline recalculation. As a result, the journalist stayed in prison longer than he should have.

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.

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.