Nariman Mezhmedinov is a political prisoner
A Crimean Tatar has been convicted on a charge of participating in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion and sentenced to eight years in a strict regime penal colony
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Nariman Mezhmedinov a political prisoner. Mezhmedinov has been convicted of ‘participating in an illegal armed group in Ukraine for purposes contrary to Russian interests’ for allegedly being a member of the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion. Mezhmedinov’s prosecution and conviction violated his right to a fair trial and were related to his ethnic identity. We demand the immediate release of Nariman Mezhmedinov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Nariman Mezhmedinov?
Nariman Mezhmedinov, a 59-year-old pensioner with disabilities and a dual citizen of Russia and Ukraine, was detained in Crimea on 3 February 2020 and remanded in custody the following day. The FSB announced the arrest of a member of an ‘illegal armed group’ (Article 208, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code).
According to the investigative authorities, Mezhmedinov was an active member of the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion between August and December 2016. As he had not officially informed the Russian authorities that he had left the Battalion, the court ruled that he had ‘continued his criminal activity’ until his arrest.
Mezhmedinov denied involvement in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion, citing chronic illnesses incompatible with military service. He stated that he had travelled from Crimea to mainland Ukraine to obtain medicines and had briefly stayed at a dacha.
On 20 July 2020, a Russian-controlled court in Crimea sentenced Mezhmedinov to eight years in a strict regime penal colony, with the first year to be served in a cell-type prison and one year of probation on his release. On 9 December 2020, Mezhmedinov’s sentence was upheld on appeal.
Why do we consider Mezhmedinov a political prisoner?
The case against Mezhmedinov was almost entirely based on the testimony of two classified witnesses and one ‘serial’ witness who had taken part in dozens of similar prosecutions. According to these witnesses, they had all been members of the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion and had performed various housekeeping duties there, as had Mezhmedinov.
There are no grounds to believe the testimony of witnesses whose identities and faces are hidden. Moreover, such a practice undermines the rights of the defence. In our view, Mezhmedinov’s participation in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion was not proven. Moreover, such participation does not constitute a crime.
The creation of the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion was announced in September 2015 by businessman Lenur Islyamov. At that time the leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People announced a civil blockade of Crimea. Members of the Battalion monitored cargo at the administrative border with Crimea. For the following two months, the Ukrainian government officially banned all trade, including in services, with Crimea, allowing only the passage of humanitarian aid. From January 2016, members of the Battalion’s successor organisation, Asker (a civil society association), conducted joint patrols with the Ukrainian Border Service. The Battalion never participated in actual combat.
Although the Battalion’s existence was never legally formalised, its activities cannot be considered unlawful since it conducted joint patrols with the Ukrainian security forces. Moreover, it is not the activities of the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion that contradict Russia’s interests, but rather Russia’s illegal seizure of Ukrainian territory.
A detailed description of Nariman Mezhmedinov’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 Nariman Mezhmedinov at the following address:
In Russian:
352310, Краснодарский край, Усть-Лабинский р-н, п. Двубратский, ул. Степная, д. 1, ФКУ ИК-6 ГУФСИН России по Краснодарскому краю, Межмединову Нариману Ризаевичу 1965 г. р.
In English:
Nariman Rizaevich Mezhmedinov (born 1965), Penal Colony No. 6, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Krasnodar Krai, 1 Stepnaya Street, Dvubratsky village, Ust-Labinsky district, Krasnodar Krai, 352310, Russia.
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Please note that letters in languages other than Russian are highly unlikely to reach the recipient.
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