Nariman Dzhelial was unlawfully detained by the occupiers after participating in the Inaugural Summit of the Crimea
26 February 2014 — the beginning of the occupation of Crimea. A large-scale demonstration in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity was held near the Crimean parliament. On the appeal of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, thousands of activists and concerned citizens joined the event. The actions of Russian and individual Crimean MPs and their cooperation with illegal paramilitary groups indicated preparations for Russia’s occupation of the peninsula. However, on that day, Crimeans peacefully managed to prevent an extraordinary parliamentary session and the revision of the status of the autonomous republic within Ukraine. To this end, we are starting to publish stories about people illegally imprisoned by Russia. These individuals are an example of resilience, demonstrating support for Ukraine and confronting the occupiers even while in detention.
The first story we’d like to highlight is the experience of Nariman Dzhelial, the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, a journalist, lecturer, and political scientist. He was unlawfully detained by the occupiers after participating in the Inaugural Summit of the Crimea Platform in 2021 and returning to his home in Crimea. For his courage in publicly speaking out against the crimes of the occupiers, his bravery in returning to the occupied Crimea after the summit, his truthfulness, and loyalty to Ukraine, Nariman was unlawfully sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment in a strict-regime colony and fined 700 thousand rubles.
Life before being detained
Before his arrest, Nariman Dzhelial worked as a presenter on the “ATR” television channel, a correspondent for the Crimean newspaper “Avdet,” and taught history and law at the Simferopol International School. In 2013, he became the First Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, heading the information-analytical department of this organization. Nariman Dzhelial consistently advocated for an active civic position, supporting Crimean Tatar activists unlawfully detained by Russia, highlighting the crimes of the occupiers, particularly the violations of the rights of the Crimean Tatar people under occupation. He participated in meetings of the “Crimean Solidarity” movement, raising awareness about the necessity of Crimea’s liberation on international platforms. At home, his wife and four children are waiting for him.
What did the occupiers come up with?
In September 2021, the occupation forces conducted a series of searches and detained Nariman for participating in the Inaugural Summit of the Crimea Platform on August 23, 2021, and later took him to an unknown destination from the village of Pervomaiske, Simferopol district. The Federal Security Service (FSB) officers kept him handcuffed with a bag over his head, exerted psychological pressure and brutally abused him. Later, Russia accused Nariman Dzhelial of a fabricated case of the so-called “sabotage” at the gas pipeline in the village of Perevalne, as well as of the illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment or carrying of explosives or explosive devices as part of an organized group.
Why was he actually detained?
In 2022, Nariman’s lawyer published a list of what, according to the words of the occupation prosecutor during the court session, are “evidence supporting the prosecution’s position” and what was found by the occupation forces in Nariman Dzhelial’s mobile phone. On his way to Crimea after participating in the Crimea Platform summit, the occupiers stopped Nariman and began checking. They paid attention to documents related to the opening of the Crimea Platform summit and Nariman Dzhelial’s participation in it, his correspondence with the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Refat Chubarov, on Facebook, where they discussed issues of pressure on Crimean Tatars by Russian security forces, and problems of social and household support for displaced Crimean Tatars on the mainland Ukraine. It is also striking that among the list of “evidence” allegedly indicating Nariman Dzhelial’s involvement in sabotage are Ukrainian passports and a Schengen visa. At the same time, representatives of the occupation prosecutor’s office did not provide any evidence of Nariman Dzhelial’s involvement in so-called “sabotage,” “smuggling of explosive devices,” or any other criminal offenses. Russia no longer hides that Nariman Dzhelial was persecuted for his public and political activities in Ukraine, particularly in the context of the Crimea Platform, for his involvement in the life of the Crimean Tatar people, and for the implementation of projects aimed at human rights protection.
In his final statement in court, Nariman Dzhelial stated: “The trip to the Crimea Platform summit was just an excuse. They accused me simply because, guided by my inner convictions, I did not remain silent, calling social and political phenomena and events occurring in Crimea since 2014 by their real names. Calling occupation “annexation”, war “the special operation”, and political repression “justice” – these distortions, and more often than not, the deceitfulness and malice of many present-day phenomena, do not change their essence.”
Where is Nariman Dzhelial now?
The occupiers forcibly removed Nariman from Crimea in October 2023, transferring him to a Russian prison from the Simferopol pre-trial detention center. Only after two months of uncertainty and an incredibly complicated process of transferring, Nariman’s current whereabouts became known – a prison in the Russian city Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Nariman Dzhelial about Ukraine
From the occupiers’ prisons, the political prisoner repeatedly wrote letters to the Ukrainian people, expressing his belief in Ukraine’s victory. Despite the horrific conditions of imprisonment, constant psychological and physical pressure, Nariman Dzhelial does not allow himself to despair and continues to be an example of resilience for many Ukrainians. He has repeatedly expressed his conviction that the fate of Crimea and the real situation of the occupied territory of Ukraine is not a local or even a regional problem. He emphasized that “the ongoing blatant armed aggression by Russia is not only against Ukraine but also against the existing system of international legal relations. Therefore, the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity along with Crimea is a matter of international stability and security,” addressing participants at the Crimea Platform summits.
Nariman Dzhelial also keeps a prison diary, and some notes and letters make it through the bars. One of Dzhelial’s letters addressed to Ukrainian society serves as a rebuke to the enemy:
“Dear warriors of Ukraine! Brothers and sisters volunteers! Beloved Ukrainians! The audacious enemy cannot break your will, your spirit, your resolve. Ukrainians of different blood, different faiths have united against the enemy onslaught. I, as well as all Ukrainian patriots in the Kremlin’s prisons, are proud of you, praying for you, for our victory. May your feet stand firmly on native soil, and your hands firmly hold the weapon. May God and the souls of the fallen citizens of Ukraine protect you, your loved ones, and your friends. I support the actions of the leadership of Ukraine, express gratitude to the international community, to our friendly countries, to people of goodwill for supporting our country during the war, our compatriots who were forced to leave their own land. I believe in our warriors! Glory to Ukraine”.
“We will endure as long as necessary. Just do not give up! Because thousands of people in Crimea are waiting…”
These are yet another motivational messages and inspiring words from Nariman, which fill the struggle of the citizens of Ukraine with meaning, and also serve as a symbol of the connection that the occupiers will not sever between Ukrainian citizens no matter how much they want to.
Despite the detention, torture, and pressure, the occupiers failed to stop Nariman Dzhelial’s resistance and his loyalty to Ukraine. Nariman’s voice continues to resonate from the walls of Russian prisons despite everything. Because our people are unbroken, indomitable. The resistance continues!