Nariman Dzhelyal has been appointed Ukraine's new ambassador to Turkiye after enduring 17 years of imprisonment on charges widely seen as fabricated by the Kremlin. A prominent leader of the Crimean Tatar community, he was convicted for allegedly smuggling explosives as part of a broader strategy to undermine dissent against Russian rule. His case exemplifies the dangers faced by activists, particularly those associated with the Mejlis, which was designated an extremist organization by Russia. Despite his release in a prisoner swap, concerns over potential branding of the Mejlis as a terrorist organization linger.
Dzhelyal’s case reflects a broader repression against Crimean Tatar activists, highlighting the Kremlin's strategic use of legal charges to silence dissent in occupied regions.
The pressure from the Turkish government seems to be a significant factor preventing the Kremlin from further escalating its crackdown on the Mejlis and Tatar community.
Collection
[
|
...
]