Eduard Asanov is a political prisoner
A Crimean Tatar has been sentenced to eight and a half years in a strict regime prison on a charge of participating in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Eduard Asanov a political prisoner. For alleged participation in the Crimean Tatar Noman Çelebicihan Battalion, Asanov was convicted of ‘participating in an armed formation on the territory of a foreign state for purposes contrary to the interests of Russia.’ Asanov’s criminal prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial. We demand the immediate release of Asanov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Eduard Asanov?
Eduard Asanov, a resident of Crimea, is a citizen of both Russia and Ukraine. On 6 September 2023, his home was searched, and he was detained on charges of participating in an illegal armed group for purposes contrary to Russia’s interests (Article 208, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code).
According to investigative authorities, in 2016 Asanov had joined the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion, which operated on the administrative border between Crimea and mainland Ukraine. The investigative authorities believe Asanov remained a member of the Battalion even after returning to Crimea in 2018, as he did not notify the Russian authorities that he had left. The indictment states that he worked as a cook and a security guard, and inspected cars at checkpoints.
Asanov maintained his innocence of the charges. He stated that he often visited the border post, where the battalion was stationed, on his own business and sometimes went to the kitchen to warm up but did not participate in the unit’s activities and worked as a cook elsewhere. Witnesses (who had previously been tried in a similar case) had claimed Asanov was armed during his alleged service but failed to confirm this in court.
On 22 July 2024, Asanov was sentenced to eight years and six months’ imprisonment, of which the first three years are to be served in a cell-type prison and the rest in a strict regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Eduard Asanov a political prisoner?
We believe participation in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion does not constitute a crime. This association was set up in September 2015 after the leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people announced a civil blockade of Crimea. The Battalion did not participate in hostilities and was in fact not an armed formation, but a civil society association.
The activities of the Çelebicihan Battalion cannot be considered illegal. Proof of this is the joint patrolling of the border with the Ukrainian Border Guard Service. Moreover, registration of the status of a formation operating on the territory of Ukraine is an internal matter for that state. At the same time, it is not the activities of the Crimean Tatar association that contradict Russia’s interests, but the illegal seizure of Ukrainian territories.
Asanov’s prosecution and conviction were based on the testimony of witnesses who appeared in similar cases. The only material evidence in the case was a chevron of the Ukrainian armed forces allegedly found on Asanov, although he was convicted of participating in an illegal armed group that was not part of the Ukrainian armed forces.
This case, like others involving charges of participation in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion, is part of a repressive campaign against Crimean Tatars who are being persecuted on ethnic grounds as real or alleged opponents of the annexation of Crimea.
A detailed description of Eduard Asanov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
You can write to Eduard Asanov at the following address:
RU: 600020, г. Владимир, ул. Большая Нижегородская, д. 67, ФКУ Т-2 УФСИН России по Владимирской области, Асанову Эдуарду Айдыровичу 1969 г. р.
EN: Eduard Aidyrovich Asanov (born 1969), Prison No. 2, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Vladimir Oblast, 67 Bolshaya Nizhegorodskaya Street, Vladimir, 600020, Russia
You can also send an email using ZT (for payment with all bank cards) and Memorial-France (free of charge).
Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the intended recipient.
You can donate to help all political prisoners in Russia on our website.
