The Supreme Court upheld the long sentences of five Crimean Tatar political prisoners

The Supreme Court held a review of the cassation appeal filed in the case of five Crimean Tatars - Akim Bekirov, Asan Yanikov, Eskender Suleymanov, Rustem Seythalilov and Seytvela Seytabdiev. They were accused of participating in a terrorist organization and preparing for a violent seizure of power.

Akim Bekirov, Seytveli Seytabdiev and Rustem Seythalilov each received 14 years in a penal colony, Eskender Suleymanov and Asan Yanikov – 15 years each.

According to the defender, the persecution was politically motivated and illegal. Eskender Suleymanov requested re-interrogation of hidden witnesses, called their testimony false. The Supreme Court rejected all petitions and upheld the sentences

In 2024, FSIN officers beat Asan Yanikov in the Russian prison "Vladimir Central". According to his sister, Asan asked twice about the possibility of picking up the products. He was refused, and then the security guards came and with all their might hit his head twice on the concrete. After the blow, the prisoner began to have a severe headache.

In the same year, after a stint in IK-9 in Petrozavodsk, Rustem Seythalilov was sent to the SHIZO for 14 days. Seytveli Seytabdiyev was not provided with medical assistance in the prison of the city of Elets (Lipetsk region). According to him, the security forces who came to the prison allowed themselves to make derogatory statements on national and religious grounds.