U.S. Embassy calls for immediate release of Bekirov, other Ukrainians

The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine has called on Russia to immediately release seriously ill Edem Bekirov and all other Ukrainian political prisoners.

The U.S. Embassy published the statement on its Twitter account on February 4.

"Russia, release Bekirov and all other Ukrainian political prisoners immediately," the statement reads.

The video attached to the statement says that 55 days ago, Russia unjustly detained Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov when he was trying to visit his elderly mother. It also says that Russia denied patient Bekirov appropriate medical care.

On December 12, 2018, Russia's security forces detained Crimean Tatar activist Edem Bekirov at the Chonhar border crossing when he was traveling to visit his mother in occupied Crimea. Charges were brought against him under two articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – Part 2 of Article 222 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of firearms, its main parts, ammunition, carried out by a group of persons on prior collusion ) and Part 2 of Article 222.1 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation or carrying of explosives or explosive devices, committed by a group of persons on prior collusion). On December 13, the so-called "court" in Simferopol ruled to detain Bekirov until February 11, 2019.

Bekirov is an amputee. He was preparing for a new operation. His health deteriorated sharply in prison. On January 15, Ukrainian ombudsman Liudmyla Denisova said that Bekirov had been taken to a hospital in Simferopol for examination. It emerged on January 18 that Bekirov had been taken back to prison, despite the fact that the examination had to last for two weeks.

The daughter of the political prisoner has repeatedly stated that her father's health is constantly deteriorating due to unsanitary detention conditions, psychological pressure and inappropriate medical manipulation.