Russian Forces Detain Lviv Family in Crimea, Accuse Them of High Treason

In the occupied Crimea, Russian security forces detained a family of immigrants from Lviv, accusing them of "high treason." The relatives believe that the real reason for the persecution is their Ukrainian origin.

This was reported by the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov.

In occupied Yevpatoriya, Russian security forces searched and detained four members of a family from Lviv: Tetyana Malyar, her brother Valentyn Malyar, her son Anatoliy Rossikhin, and her daughter Olga Begei. All were accused of "high treason" and sent to SIZO-2 in Simferopol, concealing their whereabouts for over a week.

According to the information we have, all illegally detained citizens were charged by the Russian occupiers with committing actions falling under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "high treason", - Refat Chubarov said.

According to the Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Chubarov, the detainees could have been subjected to torture and psychological pressure from the occupiers to extract the necessary testimony. Meanwhile, Olga Begei has two young children at home - 11-year-old Alisa and 7-year-old Ruslan.

The family believes that the real reason for the persecution is their Lviv origin. The family moved to Crimea before the occupation in 2014, but now they are in the hands of the invaders.

Earlier, the youngest political prisoner of Crimea, Appaz Kurtamet, who is being held in a colony in Pskov, spoke about the terrible conditions of detention, psychological pressure and inhuman treatment. According to him, the administration of the institution ignores the complaints of prisoners, which affects their physical and moral condition.

Among the political prisoners in Russian prisons and detention centers are people with serious illnesses and disabilities who do not receive proper treatment. Due to unsanitary conditions, systematic neglect of health problems and untimely medical care, their condition is deteriorating significantly, which can lead to tragic consequences.

Meanwhile, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center and the Mejlis have prepared and submitted to 40 countries a package of documents to recognize the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people as an act of genocide. This historically important step is aimed at overcoming the consequences of the forced deportation of Crimean Tatars, as well as Armenians, Bulgarians, Greeks and Germans, carried out by the Soviet authorities in 1944.

Анна Бальчінос