Mustafa Dzhemilev

Soviet dissident, spiritual leader of the Crimean Tatars, and former chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People. Shortly after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Dzhemilev was denied entry to the peninsula. In response, on May 3 in Armyansk, Crimean Tatars, supporters of Dzhemilev, tried to organize a meeting with him and broke through the checkpoint. A criminal case was opened in connection with this, and Dzhemilev was charged in absentia of illegally crossing the border. In June 2015, Dzhemilev's son Khayser was sentenced to five years on charges of manslaughter, theft and illegal possession of weapons. According to the investigation, he accidentally shot a family friend with a shotgun he had stolen from his father. Dzhemilev Sr. in connection with this story was accused of careless storage of ammunition. On April 22, 2022 Mustafa Dzhemilev was charged in absentia to two years suspended sentence and a fine of 35 thousand, but was amnestied. On May 26, the court of appeal reversed the decision on amnesty and replaced the suspended sentence with three years of imprisonment in absentia.