Crimean Tatar Rustem Gugurik, serving his sentence in Buryatia's colony No. 8, is in serious condition. According to his relatives, the man is losing his hearing and needs medication for his heart. In addition, his stomach problems have worsened. He is receiving virtually no medical care.

In addition, it became known that the political prisoner is being held in a barracks without heating, and has been placed in a punishment cell three times in six months. Gugurik said that if he does not get in touch soon, it means he has been sent to the punishment cell again.

Earlier, Gugurik was sentenced to 8.5 years for participating in the Crimean Tatar battalion named after Noman Chelebidzhikhan, which was recognized as "terrorist" in Russia. He denies his guilt and claims that he worked as a taxi driver.

It is noteworthy that since January 2015, in Crimea, which came under the de facto control of Russia, criminal cases have been opened en masse for participation in this battalion, as well as in the Hizb ut-Tahrir party. According to human rights activists, Crimean Tatars are being persecuted not for preparing a coup d'etat and terrorism, but for criticizing the Russian authorities and speaking out against repressions in Crimea.