Crimean tatar Riza Omerov sees his family for first time in 5 years after being arrested by Russia
Pravda Ukraine
The family of Crimean Tatar political prisoner Riza Omerov travelled more than 2,000 kilometres to see him for the first time since his arrest in a Russian prison. In 2021, a “court” in the Russian Federation sentenced Riza Omerov to 13 years in prison on fabricated charges.
Source: Nariman Dzhelyal, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, recently released from Russian captivity, spoke about Riza’s meeting with his loved ones
Quote: “I received good news yesterday, but there is so much deep sadness and tragedy.
Sevila [Riza’s wife – ed.] told me about this very important event in their family, followed by rejoicing and then crying. And I rejoiced and cried with her,” Dzhelyal said.
Dzhelyal said that imprisoned Riza managed to see his mother, wife and four sons.
The wife of political prisoner Sevila told Nariman that for the sake of a short three-day meeting in a strict regime penal colony, they had to travel 2,000 kilometres by car, wait for five hours for permission to enter the institution, as well as undergo a personal examination and inspection of their belongings.
Isa, the youngest son of an imprisoned Crimean Tatar, was born after the Russians detained Riza. Therefore, this trip was his first encounter with his father.
According to Sevila, the children, particularly 10-year-old Suleiman, struggled the most during his father’s long absence. Suleiman abandoned his favourite hobby, collecting jigsaw puzzles, because he couldn’t do it without his father.
“There were seven people in two rooms, with only four beds. But that wasn’t what shocked me. I was horrified to see what it meant to be behind prison walls. How difficult it is to bear. Knowing that your family depends on you and your children, but you are unable to provide for them,” Sevila said.
Sevila also stated that Riza is in poor health, with a cough and white spots on his skin. The family attempted to persuade the staff of the Russian colony to leave Riza some dried apricots and honey. Eventually, they were denied their request.
Read also: Russia withholds information about condition of Crimean political prisoner Ziza after hunger strike
Narmian Dzhelyal stated that he met Riza in a prison in Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, in February 2024. The men waited together to be transported to Chuvashia.
“This is a positive, calm and balanced person. He firmly believed in God and read the Koran on a regular basis in order to live properly.
Riza didn’t like talking about personal matters, but I could see how difficult it was for him when it came to family. It was obvious that he was experiencing a flurry of emotions and not giving them a way out,” the activist recalls.
Riza Omerov was one of eight Crimean Tatars detained by Russian authorities in Crimea in June 2019. They were accused of belonging to the Hizb ut-Tahrir organisation, which is banned in Russia and whose activists describe their mission as uniting all Muslims in the countries.
Read also: Over 14,000 Ukrainians in Russian captivity – Ukraine’s Ombudsman
At the same time, members of the group condemn terrorist tactics and claim unjust persecution in Russia and the occupied Crimea.
Earlier, there was a meeting with the relatives of activist Nariman Dzhelyal, who was detained in Crimea in September 2021 and accused of sabotage.
The man was sentenced to 17 years in prison, but in June 2024, he and nine other civilians were released from Russian captivity.
Support UP or become our patron!