Former Kremlin prisoner from Crimea to head Ukraine's embassy in Turkey

First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Nariman Dzhelal will become the new Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey.

The appointment was made by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced in his evening address.

The Head of State noted that he and his diplomatic team had approved more than 30 new ambassadorial appointments. In particular, Alyona Getmanchuk will become Ukraine's representative to NATO, and Andriy Melnyk will become a permanent representative to the UN. Official decrees on the appointments will be made public after the necessary procedures are completed.

Nariman Dzhelal is a Crimean Tatar politician, public figure and human rights activist, First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. He is an active advocate for the rights of Crimean Tatars and support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In particular, Dzhelial was an active participant in the movement against the annexation of Crimea, supporting human rights initiatives and the struggle to return the peninsula to the jurisdiction of Ukraine. Since 2014, after the occupation of Crimea, Nariman Dzhelial worked in the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and actively helped to organize support for the IDPs from Crimea.

Nariman D zhelial was among the ten hostages of the Kremlin, who were returned on June 28. The FSB opened the case against Dzhelial and brothers Asan and Aziz Akhtemov for the bombing of a gas pipeline in Crimea in the fall of 2021. Initially, only Aziz and Asan Akhtemov were suspects, Nariman Dzhelial was a witness and was not even mentioned in the decision to initiate the case. He became a suspect of aiding and abetting after the testimony of a hidden witness who appeared on the day of the politician's arrest. After the arrest, Dzhelial was placed in a "special block" of the Simferopol detention center with a strict regime - frequent cell inspections, separate walks and visits to the medical unit, constant video monitoring.

After his release, Nariman Dzhelial stated that he was ready to join the process of releasing Ukrainian prisoners.

Ірина Глухова