Crimean ‘court’ releases Edem Bekirov from custody

 “A prosecutor asked to change the pre-trial restriction from the detention in custody to the obligation to appear in court. The court changed the pre-trial restriction to the obligation to appear in court,” the Crimean Solidarity initiative reported on Facebook.

As noted, the media representatives were not allowed to enter the building of the Tsentralny District Court in Simferopol despite the fact that the court hearing was held in the open mode.

“The bailiffs did not let the media representative with press cards enter the courthouse, demanding to show a subpoena,” the Crimean Solidarity emphasizes.

In addition, Bekirov’s lawyer Aleksey Ladin stated that the actions of the court’s employees were unlawful as they did not give the defense the time necessary to familiarize with the case file.

57-year-old Edem Bekirov was detained on December 12, 2018, when entering Crimea and charged under Part 2 of Article 222, Part 2 of Article 222.1 (storage and transfer of explosive substances and ammunition round). On December 13, the Kyivsky District Court in Simferopol arrested Bekirov for two months. Later, this pre-trial restriction was repeatedly extended, despite the fact that Bekirov is a disabled person of group I (his leg is amputated), has diabetes mellitus, and also suffered a heart attack and underwent heart surgery.

The Tsentralny District Court in Simferopol ruled to pass Bekirov’s case to the Krasnoperekopsk District Court contrary to the current legislation. On August 20, 2019, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea revoked that judgment and left the case in the jurisdiction of the Tsentralny District Court in Simferopol. Bekirov stated in court that he would not survive the transfer to Krasnoperekopsk due to a significantly worsened state of health.

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