Crimean Tatar political prisoner and journalist Asan Akhtemov, who was sentenced to 15 years, is experiencing teeth and vision deterioration in Prison No. 2 in the Vladimir Region.

“Due to the lack of adequate nutrition and vitamins, Asan’s teeth are deteriorating. In his free time, he reads a lot and, due to the lack of normal lighting, his eyesight has become poor. The prison conditions are strict. Very often, you have to fight for your rights, despite the fact that it can be very difficult,” said the wife of the Crimean Tatar Repika Akhtemov.

Aziz and Asan Akhtemov are Crimean Tatar activists. They were detained on September 3 and 4, 2021, on suspicion of blowing up a gas pipeline in the village of Perevalnoye on orders from Ukrainian intelligence. The brothers were sentenced to 15 and 13 years in prison, respectively. They did not admit their guilt.

Lawyers say that at the appeal stage the court closed the trial to the audience, and the principles of openness and transparency were effectively ignored. During the interrogation of a secret witness, the court reminded him that he could not answer certain questions from the lawyers. In addition, the defense was denied the opportunity to conduct several re-examinations.