Occupation authorities sentenced crimean activist to 8 years in high-security prison
The Supreme Court of Russian-annexed Crimea has sentenced Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Akhtem Chiygoz to 8 years in a high-security prison, according to his lawyer Nikolai Polozov.
The verdict was handed down on Monday, September 11. As UNIAN reported earlier, on August 7, at a hearing in the case of one of the leaders of the Crimean Tatar national movement Akhtem Chiygoz in the Kremlin-controlled de-facto "supreme court" of the occupied Crimea, prosecutor Anastasia Supriaga requested that the defendant be sentenced to 8 years in prison.
As were mentioned early, Akhtem Chiygoz, was arrested in January 2015, having been accused of organizing "mass revolt" following street clashes between pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian supporters in February 2014. According to media footage and eyewitness accounts, he was in fact one of those attempting to keep the crowds apart to prevent violence. After Chiygoz spent more than 15 months in custody, his trial began in August 2016. He was not allowed to attend court hearings in person, participating instead via a poor Skype conference, meaning he could not hear all that was being said in the courtroom, and neither could he properly consult with his lawyer in private.
Source: UNIAN