Crimean political prisoner Shikhametov lost 30 kg and lost the ability to walk

Crimean political prisoner Yashar Shikhametov, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in Russia, has lost 30 kg in captivity. Due to serious health problems, in particular, destroyed joints, he can hardly move.

This was reported by Suspilne TV channel with reference to Shikhametov's wife Lilia.

According to her, the political prisoner can move only with the help of crutches or a wheelchair. The lawyer, who visited Shikhametov, said that he was brought to him in a wheelchair, as he could not move on his own.

Now the health of the Crimean Tatar has deteriorated significantly. In addition to weight loss, he was diagnosed with an enlarged liver, kidney stones, high blood pressure, suspected diabetes, and destroyed intervertebral discs and joints. Because of this, he is in severe pain and takes painkillers that his family passes on to him.

''I cover a distance of 50 meters in two and a half hours. After walking, everything hurts a lot, I have to take painkillers,'' Shikhametov said.

Currently, the colony administration is deciding on the issue of hospitalization and disability. However, according to Shikhametov, the documents were supposed to be prepared in Saratov, but the doctors did not have time to do it due to the transfer.

On February 17, 2021, Russian security forces detained Shikhametov, along with five other Crimeans, after massive searches in the occupied Crimea. On September 9, 2022, a Russian court sentenced him to <b>11 years in a maximum security colony</b>, of which he must spend the first four years in prison. Shikhametov was accused of participating in the activities of an organization recognized as a terrorist in Russia.

The Assembly of Crimean Tatar Organizations was established in Nuremberg. The Assembly unites seven organizations, as well as initiative groups and activists from Germany, Belgium, Poland and Estonia. The event was attended by about 40 people. The main tasks of the new institution include strengthening the position of Crimean Tatars in Europe, lobbying for their interests in national parliaments and European structures, creating a fund to support education, culture, and human rights projects, and establishing the Crimean Institute of Research.

Катерина Глушко