Aziz Akhtemov: Whereabouts unknown for weeks

The wife of the Crimean political prisoner Aziz Akhtemov reported that her husband was transferred from Federal State Institution Prison-2 in the city of Yeniseysk, the Krasnoyarsk Territory, to an unknown direction. On Facebook, she stated that Aziz was taken away on September 4, but his whereabouts are still being kept a secret.

“It is a fairly common practice when the FPS (Federal Penitentiary Service of russia) does not inform relatives about the transfer destination of ​​political prisoners. Recently, the same story has happened with Remzi Bekirov. Transfer can last several weeks. During the transfer period, there is an increased risk of various abuses by the FPS employees. In particular, a cruel treatment of political prisoners in the absence of representatives of the PSC (Public Supervisory Commission) and the convict’s communication with the outside world”, – says CrimeaSOS analyst Yevhenii Yaroshenko. 

Akhtemov’s wife repeatedly tried to call the russian prison, but no one picked up the phone. Her e-mail with a request to inform the whereabouts of Aziz was answered with a refusal. They wrote that they did not have the right to provide such information to third parties.  

The first deputy head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Nariman Dzhelial, recently released from russian captivity, noted: “Aziz’s prison term was about to end and he was to be sent to a strict regime colony”. 

We would like to remind that Aziz Akhtemov is involved in the “case of sabotage on the gas pipeline” in Crimea. Criminal proceedings were instituted against him under Part 1 of Article 281 of the criminal code of the russian federation (sabotage), Art. 35 of the criminal code of the russian federation (a crime committed by an organized group of persons) and Art. 221.1 of the criminal code of the russian federation (purchase, storage of explosives). He was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment and 1 year of restriction of freedom of movement.