Nariman Dzhelyal’s address from the prison: “As before, we rejoice in the successes of our warriors and thrive for their victory… Thousands of people in Crimea are waiting.”

On July 28, the Appeal court in Sochi, Russia, completed the review of the appeal against the verdict in the fabricated case against Nariman Dzhelyal, the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and brothers Aziz and Asan Akhtemov. The terms of imprisonment were left unchanged, but the sentence was harshened by the order to keep the unlawfully convicted individuals in prison for the first three years and then in a strict-regime colony for the subsequent years. Moreover, all defense requests to exclude unsubstantiated evidence were rejected.

The same day, the occupying authorities detained 14 people who came to the building of the occupying “Supreme court” in Simferopol to support Nariman Dzhelyal and the Akhtemov brothers. Among those arrested were relatives of political prisoners, Nariman’s brother Ruslan Dzhelyal, Aziz’s mother Zarema Akhtemova, activist Rustem Useinov, correspondent of “Crimean Solidarity” and “Graty” media outlets Lutfie Zudiyeva, and journalist Kulamet Ibraimov. 5 persons were fined.

Nariman Dzhelyal, a human rights defender and public figure representing the indigenous people, was arrested by the occupiers after participating in the Inaugural Summit of the Crimea Platform in 2021 and sentenced to 17 years of unlawful detention.

On August 1, Nariman’s lawyer, Nikolai Polozov, published a short statement from the political prisoner that deserves attention. Here is the full version of the address.

“Many expected that in my final word at the Appeal court, I would deliver some political manifesto. However, I was in a completely different mood. For nearly 2 years, I have interacted with hypocritical individuals in robes, and I had no desire to cast pearls before them. So, I simply reminded them that they will be judged for their hypocrisy by a much fairer court.

To those who continue to believe in us and support us, to those who endure and make efforts for the liberation of our country and its citizens, I say that we are not broken. We still believe in the power of truth and justice. We continue to rejoice in the successes of our warriors and thrive for their victory.

We will endure as long as it is necessary. Just don’t give up! I know – you won’t give up!

Thousands of people in Crimea are waiting…”