Russia transfers Crimean activist to psychiatric hospital from detention facilities

Abdulmedzhyt Seitumerov, a political prisoner from Crimea detained by Russian authorities on 24 August, was transferred from a pre-trial detention facility to Simferopol’s psychiatric hospital.

Source: Crimean Solidarity, citing Seitumerov’s lawyer, Emil Kurbedinov

Details: Kurbedinov said that this was not the first case against members of Hizb ut-Tahrir when the defendants are subjected to psychiatric examination and recognised as fully sane, and thus subject to prosecution. Kurbedinov stressed that there is no need for such examinations and they are unfounded [Hizb ut-Tahrir is an international pan-Islamist and Islamic fundamentalist political organisation whose stated aim is the re-establishment of the Islamic caliphate to unite the Muslim community – ed.].

Quote from Kurbedinov: "The law mandates such examinations in certain types of criminal cases or when there are sufficient grounds to believe that the arrested person may indeed suffer from a mental illness. Neither is the case in this instance. Detention in such hospitals is, in effect, a way of using medicine in punitive ways, and is a way of putting pressure on our clients."

Details: Kurbedinov added that Seitumerov will spend 20-25 days at the psychiatric facility.

Background:

• On the morning of 24 August, Russian security forces broke into the homes of Crimean Tatars in the city of Bakhchysarai and the Bakhchysarai district to conduct searches. Ruslan Asanov, Seidamet Mustafaiev, Remzi Nimetulaiev, Abdulmedzhyt Seitumerov, Ametkhan Umerov and Eldar Yakubov were detained.
• The Kyiv District Court, controlled by Russian occupying authorities in Crimea, held hearings to decide on a preventive measure for Ametkhan Umerov, Remzi Nimetulaiev and Ruslan Asanov on the evening of 24 August. The defendants would remain in Simferopol’s pretrial detention facility No 2 until the end of October 2023.
• The next day, officers of the Center for Combating Extremism, the Russian occupation police, and masked men detained 23 Crimean Tatars near the Kyiv District Court. Those activists came to support Seidamet Mustafaiev, Eldar Yakubov and Abdulmedzhyt Seitumerov, whom the court also sent to the pretrial detention facility No 2 until the end of October.
• On 27 August, Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the detention of Crimean Tatars on 24 August, Ukraine’s Independence Day, and called upon the international community to "keep putting pressure on Russia".

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