During the “trial”, Farkhod Bazarov began testifying in his native Crimean Tatar language. His lawyer explained to the court that he did not speak Russian well and needed an interpreter. The judge noted that in this way Bazarov was abusing his rights, the court decided to exclude him from participating in the process. In solidarity with Bazarov, other Crimean Tatar activists from among the defendants also started to communicate in Crimean Tatar. Later, the court decided to remove from the courtroom also Remzi Bekirov, Riza Izetov, Rayim Ayvazov, Shaban Umerov.

“Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea closely monitors every case opened by the occupiers against citizens of Ukraine living in the temporarily occupied territories. The Russian “Themis” does not neglect any reason to put pressure on the defendants, persuading them to plead guilty, creating an atmosphere of fear and mistrust on the peninsula.

Today, once again, we state that the Russian Federation speaks only in words about the observance of the rights of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people, the free development of Crimean Tatar culture and language in the occupation. In fact, defendants cannot use their native language for personal defense in court. They are forced to use only the language of the occupier, and when they ask to provide an interpreter, they are generally deprived of the opportunity to take part in the trial. This underscores the conscious policy of the Russian Federation to eradicate all manifestations of solidarity and persecutions on national, political and religious grounds. The Mission’s team records every case of illegal harassment in the temporarily occupied territory and transmits information to Ukrainian law enforcement agencies, as well as communicates about such cases at the international level”, – Tamila Tasheva, Deputy Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Shaban Umerov, Remzi Bekirov, Riza Izetov, Farkhod Bazarov and Rayim Ayvazov are charged under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (creation of a terrorist organization) which provides for life imprisonment. The rest of the defendants are charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code (participation in a terrorist organization) and face up to 20 years in prison. All defendants in the case are also charged under Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 of the Criminal Code (preparation for forcible seizure of power) providing for 10 years in prison.