Court Considering Illegal Conviction of a Leader of Crimean Tatar People’s Mejlis

The Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea states that the case against three “judges” of the illegally established “Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea” has been sent to court. The actions of the accused are qualified as a war crime under Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code (violation of the laws and customs of war). The sanction of the article provides for imprisonment for up to 12 years.

According to the investigation, the “panel of judges” is involved in the illegal criminal prosecution and conviction of one of the leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People over the events of 26 February 2014.

At that time, the residents of the peninsula resisted the Russian occupation. A rally in support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity was held near the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

The accused “judges” were directly involved in the prosecution of Ukrainian citizens who disagreed with the occupation of the peninsula, ignoring the provisions of the 1949 Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

As a result of such illegal actions and judgments, one of the leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People was found guilty and sentenced to eight years in prison for allegedly organising mass riots near the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Crimea on 26 February 2014.

Natalia Tolub