Blind Crimean political prisoner transferred from occupied Crimea to Russia - Ombudsman
Kyiv • UNN
Crimean political prisoner Oleksandr Sizikov, who has a group 1 visual disability, was transferred from the Simferopol detention center to Krasnodar. He was unlawfully sentenced to 17 years for supporting Crimean Muslims, despite the defense's demands to release him on health grounds.
Crimean political prisoner Oleksandr Sizikov was illegally transferred to Russia despite his visual disability. This was stated by the Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, reports UNN.
“Crimean political prisoner Oleksandr Sizikov, illegally sentenced to 17 years, was transferred from the Simferopol pre-trial detention center to Krasnodar. Despite the defense's demands to release him due to his group 1 disability, the occupation “penitentiary service” in Crimea refused,” Lubinets wrote.
He reminded that Oleksandr Sizikov lost his eyesight in 2009 due to an accident, but continued to protest in support of illegally convicted Crimean Muslims, for which he was recognized as a “terrorist”.
Since July 2020, he has been under house arrest, and on September 13, 2024, the Russian Court of Appeal upheld the sentence, refusing to release him for health reasons.
“I emphasize that Russia grossly violates international humanitarian law when it illegally imprisons civilians! Currently, there are 218 Crimean political prisoners illegally detained by Russia in the TOT of Crimea. At least 48 of them need immediate medical care. The international community must respond decisively to the actions of the Russian Federation and demand the immediate release of all illegally imprisoned citizens of Ukraine!” emphasized Lubinets.
