Abibulla Smedlyaev has experienced worsening health in Simferopol's SIZO-2. The arrest took place after searches of Crimean Tatar homes in early February, which resulted in the arrest and charges of terrorism of four more people.
Smedlyaev, who has been diagnosed with astigmatism and myopia, is being held without glasses, which were broken during the search, and is not receiving the necessary treatment, despite severe eye pain. Relatives are unable to give him medications.
According to security forces, Smedlyaev participated in the activities of the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in the Russian Federation. His relatives claimed that banned literature was planted on him and others.
Before his arrest, Abibula Smedlyaev was engaged in construction and agriculture, raised four minor children, and attended court hearings on cases of other Crimean Tatars.
