The defense team for a Crimean Tatar political prisoner suffering from brain cancer is seeking his release

The health of political prisoner Tofik Abdulgaziyev, who suffers from brain cancer, tuberculosis, and other serious illnesses, continues to deteriorate. His wife, Aliye Kurtametova, reported that his situation is "extremely critical" and recalled unsuccessful requests for assistance in similar cases.

Abdulgaziyev's defense team has filed a new petition for his release based on the discovery of a brain tumor, which is listed as a condition that prevents a person from serving a sentence. A court hearing is scheduled for April. Meanwhile, the Crimean Tatar was placed in a solitary confinement cell in the prison hospital, where he lived in damp and cold conditions. He frequently lost consciousness, experienced severe dizziness, and had difficulty moving.

In March 2019, Abdulgaziyev was arrested for his involvement with the Hizb ut-Tahrir party, which is banned in Russia but permitted in other countries. In May 2022, he was sentenced to 12 years in a maximum-security prison colony.

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