Sep 17, 2018

Crimean Tatars: Evidence of Torture of Political Prisoner to be Transferred to Courts


Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Lyudmila Denisova, has demanded from Russian authorities to allow her to immediately visit Ukrainian activist Volodymyr Balukh, after evidence of torture has come forward. Balukh, who is on hunger strike since 19 March 2018, was allegedly taken out of his cell, severely beaten up and threatened with death. Balukh is one among many activists detained by the Russian authorities suspected of resisting Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014. The evidence of the torture will be transferred to the courts.

The following article was published by 112.international:

Evidence of beating of the Ukrainian political prisoner in Crimea Volodymyr Balukh will be transferred to the courts. This was reported by the Speaker of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Marian Betza in Twitter.

"The beating of V. Balukh, who is in hunger strike for 181 days, is beyond the limits of good and evil. The evidence of the crimes will be transferred to the courts, "she said.

In turn, the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights, Lyudmila Denisova, demands from the Russian authorities to allow her immediately to visit the political prisoner.

"At my request regarding visits of Balukh and Vyshinsky on the conditions of synchronization, Tatyana Moskalkova assured that she applied for permission to all the organs involved. I'm waiting, but I understand: only Putin can make such a decision, therefore, I demand immediately to allow me to Volodymyr Balukh. Any minute I'm ready to go to visit him!" she wrote on her Facebook page.

Earlier, the deputy chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, Ahtem Chyigoz, reported that Ukrainian political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh was beaten up and threatened to get killed in the Simferopol remand center.  

According to the Deputy Chairman, Balukh was taken out from his cell, severely beaten up and is threatened to get killed.'  

As it was reported earlier the ‘February 26 case’ is the infamous case of several Crimean Tatar activists detained by the Russian ‘authorities’ of Crimea in 2014; the protesters are suspected of ‘organization and participation in the mass disturbances in Crimea on February 26, 2014’, when the Crimean Tatars tried to prevent the occupation of the peninsula by Russian troops and the overthrowing of the Ukrainian authority there. Ali Asanov and Mustafa Degermenji were arrested in April and May 2014, respectively.  

 

Photo courtesy of Kaktuse @Wikimedia Commons