Asan Akhtemov
Asan Akhtemov, born 1989, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 222.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment, or carrying of explosives or…); Article 226.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code (Illegal movement across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union or the State border of the…); Article 281 part 2 items a, b, Russian Criminal Code (Committing sabotage activities by an organized group of persons by prior conspiracy, resulting in…); “Case of undermining a gas pipeline in Crimea”. Sentence (September 20, 2022): 15 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since September 1, 2021; place of detention: Penal colony No. 5, Arkhangelsk Oblast. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, January 21, 2023.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea · Simferopol · Journalists, NGO staff · Terrorism cases
Sentence
15 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony
Upheld November 20, 2024
Charges
- Article 222.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal acquisition, transfer, storage, transportation, shipment, or carrying of explosives or explosive devices committed by an organized group of people
- Article 226.1 part 3, Russian Criminal Code — Illegal movement across the customs border of the Eurasian Economic Union or the State border of the Russian Federation with the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union of strategically important goods and resources, cultural values, especially valuable wild animals, aquatic biological resources, plants and mushrooms, committed by an organized group
- Article 281 part 2 items a, b, Russian Criminal Code — Committing sabotage activities by an organized group of persons by prior conspiracy, resulting in significant property damage or other serious consequences;
Full wording of the charges
According to the version of the investigation, on the assignment of the former guard of the spiritual leader of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev Riza Yagyaev-Veliulaev participated in the explosion of the gas pipeline in the village of Perevalnoye: he went to the site several times and took photos, in the evening of 22 August 2021 brought the device to the gas pipeline and made sure that no one saw him and Aziz Akhtemov.
Latest event
November 20, 2024 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, January 21, 2023
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 15 years
· Persecution begins
Case of undermining a gas pipeline in Crimea
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
Criminal case
Case of undermining a gas pipeline in Crimea
Other defendants in the case
- Aziz Akhtemov — Imprisoned, 13 years
- Nariman Dzhelyal (Dzhelyalov) — At large, 17 years
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 5, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
165651, Архангельская область, г. Коряжма, Магистральное шоссе, 101, ФКУ «ИК № 5 УФСИН России по Архангельской области», Ахтемов Асан Исламович, 1989 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
He was detained in the late evening of 3 September 2021. He was not shown any documents, a plastic mask was put over his eyes and handcuffs on his hands. According to Akhtemov, at first he was told that he had raped a girl. Ten days after his detention, Akhtemov said that he was brought to a basement where he was electrocuted, after which he agreed to speak a prepared text on camera. He was then taken to the Federal Security Service building where he was interrogated, forced to sign some documents and again to speak on camera. Initially, Akhtemov was charged with sabotage, then the charge of possession of explosives by an organised group was added. In October 2021, Akhtemov's lawyer reported that he was not being transferred from quarantine to a regular cell in the pre-trial detention centre - in her opinion, this was done to hide the remaining traces of physical abuse. On 21 September 2022, Akhtemov was sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime colony. In June 2023, it was reported that Akhtemov was being tortured in the pre-trial detention centre.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia, Ukraine
Other people prosecuted under Article 222.1 part 4, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.