Crimean Tatar political prisoner, citizen journalist Remzi Bekirov, sentenced to 19 years, has not been in touch for three weeks. He is being held in IK-33 in Khakassia.

Previously, his lawyer and wife reported pressure in the colony. Bekirov was unjustifiably placed in a punishment cell several times, and he was also forbidden to call his family and write letters.

Earlier, the Federal Penitentiary Service refused to transfer Remzi Bekirov from Khakassia to a colony closer to his home in Crimea for the fifth time.

“Each time I get refusals for various reasons. They finally made it clear that they will not transfer me closer to home. And 5,300 kilometers is very far for us. It will be very difficult to go on visits with children,” said the prisoner’s wife, Khalide Bekirova.

In March 2022, the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced Remzi Bekirov to 19 years in prison. He was found guilty of participating in the Islamic party Hiz ut-Tahrir, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation.