Osman Kadyrov is a political prisoner
A former village head from Crimea has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for alleged involvement in the Çelebicihan Battalion
The ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project, in accordance with international standards, considers Osman Kadyrov a political prisoner. Kadyrov has been convicted of participation in an illegal armed group on the territory of a foreign state for purposes against the interests of the Russian Federation for providing food supplies to members of the Çelebicihan Battalion. Kadyrov’s prosecution and conviction violate his right to a fair trial and are related to his ethnic origin. We demand the release of Osman Kadyrov and that all criminal charges against him be dropped.
What were the charges against Osman Kadyrov?
Osman Kadyrov is a pensioner with disabilities. Until 2015, he was the head of the village of Yarkoye Pole in Crimea.
On 19 January 2023, Kadyrov was arrested on a charge of ‘participation in an illegal armed group on the territory of a foreign state for purposes against the interests of the Russian Federation’ (Article 208, Part 2, of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the investigative authorities, in 2016, Kadyrov travelled several times from Crimea to mainland Ukraine for medicines. On his return journey, he allegedly handed over food supplies to members of the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion on the administrative border with Crimea. Kadyrov was placed under house arrest.
At his trial, Kadyrov admitted he bought the food but claimed he was reimbursed for the expense on the basis of receipts.
On 1 June 2023, a court in Crimea sentenced Kadyrov to two years’ imprisonment, noting the lack of evidence of personal involvement in illegal activities and the low level of danger to the public of his actions. However, on 17 August 2023, Kadyrov’s sentence was increased on appeal to five years, with the first year to be served in a cell-type prison and the remaining term in a general regime penal colony.
Why do we consider Osman Kadyrov a political prisoner?
Osman Kadyrov was convicted of participation in an illegal armed group. However, the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion is not an illegal armed group.
The Noman Çelebicihan Battalion was created in September 2015 by entrepreneur Lenur Islyamov at a time when the leaders of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis declared a civil blockade of Crimea. The Battalion’s members checked cargo at the ‘border’ with Crimea; two months later, the Ukrainian government banned the transfer of goods and services to and from Crimea, except for humanitarian aid. Since January 2016, members of the Battalion, or more precisely of the Asker civil society association, which was created on its basis, carried out joint patrols with the Ukrainian Border Guard Service.
Despite the fact that the Battalion was not established in law, its activities cannot be considered illegal. Proof of this is the joint border patrols with Ukrainian law enforcement forces. At the same time, it is not the Battalion’s activities that contradict Russia’s interests, but the illegal seizure of Ukrainian territories.
Moreover, there was no reliable evidence to support the charges against Kadyrov. The testimony against him was provided by a ‘serial witness’ who has appeared in several similar trials, and by two classified witnesses, in violation of the rights to legal defence and fair trial.
Kadyrov’s actions in delivering food supplies to members of the Battalion did not involve participation in combat activities; they were episodic and did not pose a threat to the public.
A detailed description of Osman Kadyrov’s case and of our position is available on our website.
Recognition of an individual as a political prisoner does not imply the ‘Political Prisoners. Memorial’ human rights project agrees with, or approves, their views, statements, or actions.
How can you help?
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