Crimean Tatar political prisoner transferred from intensive care unit

Political prisoner Tofik Abdulgaziev, sentenced to 12 years in prison, was transferred from intensive care to the department of the hospital in Verkhneuralsk, Chelyabinsk region. However, his condition remains serious.

“I know that just the other day he was already taken out of intensive care and transferred to the department. I may think that he is not in critical condition, but I can say that his health and physical condition are very difficult. He has a very serious diagnosis, but we won’t disclose it for now,” said lawyer Emil Kurbedinov.

On March 7, the prisoner's wife learned that he had been sent to a tuberculosis hospital. Two weeks later, doctors said that Abdulgaziev was in intensive care in serious condition.

Tofik Abdulgaziev has lost 15 kg since July last year and continues to lose weight in the Verkhneuralsk prison in the Chelyabinsk region. In addition, joint pain makes it difficult for him to clench and unclench his fingers, and due to acute pain in his heel, he cannot step on his foot.

In May 2022, the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced Tofik Abdulgaziev to 12 years in prison. He, like hundreds of other Crimean Tatars, was accused of participating in the Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which was recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation. At the same time, the case materials contain no information about the planning or implementation of terrorist attacks, as well as calls for them.