CrimeaSOS: the case of Seidametov may be the first extradition of a political prisoner from Crimea 

The probable extradition of Crimean political prisoner Lenur Seidametov may be the first case of the transfer of a political prisoner convicted by the russian authorities from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine to third countries. This was reported by the Crimea SOS project coordinator, Oleksii Tilnenko, in a comment to “Suspilne Crimea”. 

“The report on the situation surrounding the potential extradition of Lenur Seidametov to Uzbekistan is of great concern. We, as human rights activists, do not know many details now, but we may actually be witnessing the first such precedent. The displacement of civilians constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute”, –Oleksii Tilnenko noted. 

The wife of political prisoner Adzhire informed the “Suspilne Crimea” TV and Radio Company that the person involved in the third Simferopol group “Hizb ut-Tahrir” may be extradited to Uzbekistan. Oleksii notes that the situation is complicated by accusations of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, because the organization was banned and recognized as terrorist in Uzbekistan in the early 1990s, that is, much earlier than in the russian federation. 

“Despite the fact that there have been inquiries about similar actions before, they had one thing in common: the individuals involved in these cases were wanted or convicted in absentia in Uzbekistan and were citizens of that country. For example, Murat Karimov, who was abducted on December 29, 2016, near the Chonhar checkpoint. Prior to that (since 2010) he had been in Ukraine awaiting refugee status. The circumstances of his disappearance and his history of persecution may indicate that, after his abduction, he may have been sent to Uzbekistan upon an extradition request. Another defendant, Nabi (Aiub) Rakhimov, was killed during detention in Crimea in May 2021. Back in 2010, a case was opened against him in Uzbekistan for alleged involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir. During his detention in Moscow in 2013, he was also under threat of extradition, but the ECHR then blocked this process”, – Oleksii told. 

It should be noted that the transfer of victims of politically motivated cases from Crimea is equivalent to the illegal deportation of civilians from the territory of the occupied peninsula and is a war crime. According to Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, civilians accused of offences shall be detained in the occupied country, and if convicted they shall serve their sentences therein. 

We would like to remind you that during 2024, at least 29 Crimean political prisoners were transferred to various penitentiary institutions in the russian federation to serve their illegal sentences.