28 Hostages of the Kremlyn

28 HOSTAGES OF THE KREMLIN
4.4. OTHER CASES OF POLITICAL PROSECUTION IN CRIMEA
injured. Thus, the participants sustained head injuries, blunt abdominal traumas, etc.; 6 people
were admitted to hospital with severe and moderate injuries.
A number of criminal proceedings were initiated against participants in the pro-Ukrainian
meetings following the event of 26 February, 2014. The offences, most frequently incriminated
by the self-proclaimed authorities to protesters, include: participation in mass riots (Art. 212 of
the CC of the RF), which is punishable by a term of up to 10 years. In this case, detained and
subsequently released on bail were Eskender Kantemirov (arrested on 7 February, 2015 and released
on 6 April, 2015) Eskender Emirvaliyev (arrested on 18 February, 2015 and released on 17
April, 2015), Talyat Yunusov (arrested on 11 March, 2015 and released on 8 September, 2015).
At the beginning of 2015, i. e. nearly a
year after the events occurred under the
government of the Supreme Council of
Crimea, three Crimean Tatars, namely:
Akhtem Chiyhoz (born 1964), Ali Asanov
(born 1982), Mustafa Dehermendzhi (born
1989) were arrested and, as of today, they
remain in custody.
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Ali Asanov, a Crimean Tatar, resident of
the village of Urozhayneye, was detained
on 16 April, 2015. Prior to his arrest, he
worked as a farmer and supported three
children (his fourth child was born following
Ali Asanov
Akhtem Chiyhoz
his arrest), his wife and his disabled father. He was not engaged in social activism, the entirety
of his work was aimed at supporting his family. Ali is accused of participating in the riots and has
been charged under Art. 212, section 2 of the CC of the RF. The defence argues that Ali Asanov’s
actions bear no legal components of the alleged crime. At the same time, Ali admits to participating
in the peace rally of 26 February, 2014, but he denies any wrongdoing.
Mustafa
Dehermendzhi
Mustafa Dehermendzhi, a Crimean Tatar, was detained on 7 May,
2015. He is also accused of participating in the riots under Art. 212,
section 2 of the CC of the RF. The main evidence, cited by the socalled
investigative authorities, takes the form of video footage which
allegedly features Mustafa. The defence insists that the video, presented
as evidence in the criminal proceedings, does not prove that
the suspect participated in the riots, as the acts it depicts, occurred
well in advance of the time that the scuffle between the participants
of both rallies broke out.
Akhtem Chiyhoz, a Crimean Tatar, Deputy Chairman of the Majlis
of the Crimean Tatar People, was detained on 29 January, 2015. He
was engaged in public activity, which distinguishes him from other
defendants in the case, and which, to some extent, explains the increased
interest of law enforcement bodies in him. Akhtem Chiyhoz doesn’t deny his participation
in a peace rally near the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on 26
February, 2014. At the same time, the video, presented by the Investigative Committee, which
constituted a major part of the evidence base used to establish his guilt, does not show Akhtem
Chiyhoz committing any violent acts. Nevertheless, he is accused of committing a serious crime,
namely: the organisation of mass riots (Art. 212, section 1 of the CC of the RF).