The Permanent Representative Tamila Tasheva met with Nariman Dzhelial, the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and a recently released political prisoner. The meeting took place at the Mejlis office, attended by Refat Chubarov, Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Mustafa Dzhemiliev, leader of the Crimean Tatar People, and other members of the Mejlis.

Nariman Dzhelial was illegally imprisoned by Russia and sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2021, following his return to Crimea from Kyiv, where he had spoken at the Inaugural Summit of the Crimea Platform. The occupiers falsely accused Dzhelial of alleged “terrorist activities,” but his persecution was in fact due to his pro-Ukrainian stance, his efforts to help fellow citizens, his struggle to protect human rights in occupied Crimea, and his journalistic activities reporting the truth about the occupiers’ crimes.

Dzhelial’s release was a result of a prisoner exchange, symbolically taking place immediately after the Day of the Crimean Tatar Flag and on Ukraine’s Constitution Day on June 28. His release was achieved through the efforts of the state leadership and international partners, particularly the Vatican.

We believe in Nariman Dzhelial’s reunification with his family, and the team of the Mission looks forward to welcoming him to our office.