Activist Memet Belyalov, sentenced to 18 years in prison, is transferred to another detention center

Activist Memet Belyalov, a Crimean Tatar by birth, sentenced to 18 years in prison, has been transferred from the Penitentiary Colony No. 9 to Parfin (Novgorod Oblast).

This was reported to the human rights organization "Crimean Solidarity" by his wife Edie Belyalova.

According to her, the Crimean Tatar was transferred on July 11, as the colony where he was kept was closed. From that moment until recently, the family did not know where Belyalov was and where he was being taken. The man only managed to call and inform them that he was on his way.

"Three days ago, he called again and said that he was in SIZO-1 in Veliky Novgorod. On the same day, he was supposed to be taken further, but it is still unknown where," said Ediya Belyalova.

Also, during the transportation, there was no communication with the detainee at all.

Memet Belyalov is an activist of the Crimean Solidarity. Before his arrest, he worked in a store selling and servicing mobile phones.

On October 11, 2017, FSB officers detained six Crimean Tatars in Bakhchisarai - Timur Ibragimov, Marlen (Suleiman) Asanov, Memet Belyalov, Seiran Saliev, Server Zekiryayev and Ernes Ametov. On May 21, 2018, Edem Smailov and Server Mustafayev were detained in their homes and arrested in the same criminal case. According to the investigation, the guilt of the detained Crimean Tatars was attributed to their involvement in the activities of the Hizb ut-Tahrir party (a banned organization) in Crimea.

On September 16, 2020, the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don announced the verdict in the case of the Second Bakhchisarai Group of Hizb ut-Tahrir*. Crimean Muslims were sentenced to terms of 13 to 19 years in prison. Memet Belyalov was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Ukraine needs to "maximize" the use of the occupation of Crimea and Crimean Tatars in particular in its diplomatic relations with Turkey.

During prisoner exchanges, Russia is most resistant to the return of Azov fighters, journalists, and Crimean Tatars. The latter category is considered particularly undesirable because, according to the occupiers, the release of Crimean Tatars increases resistance in Crimea.

Олександра Горст