UA
FR
DEThe Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) has accused the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people of involvement in organising a sabotage that allegedly took place on a gas pipeline in the occupied Crimea on 23 August.
According to the FSB, Ukrainian intelligence officers organised it, while Crimeans Aziz Akhtemov and Asan Akhmetov allegedly blew up a section of the gas pipeline near Perevalne, and Nariman Celal, one of the leaders of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, was named the mediator of the operation.
The three suspects were arrested as part of the investigation.
The Russian FSB also showed a video of the alleged sabotage on the gas pipeline in the occupied Crimea and the questioning of the alleged perpetrator of the explosion.
Deputy Speaker of the Mejlis Nariman Celal and two brothers, Aziz Akhtemov and Asan Akhmetov, face up to 15 years in prison.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian MPs registered a draft resolution on the appeal of the Verkhovna Rada to the UN Security Council to recognise the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces as terrorist organisations.
Since Russia’s occupation of Crimea in 2014, the FSB security forces have regularly detained those who disagree with the regime and abducted Ukrainian citizens. In Ukraine, the FSB officers are regularly exposed for organising provocations and sabotage in the regions. In addition, Russia’s special services are also involved in recruiting Ukrainians to collect confidential information about the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
As a reminder, on 3-4 September, Russia’s security forces in the occupied Crimea detained five Crimean Tatars: Aziz Aziz Akhtemov, Asan Akhmetov, Nariman Celal, Eldar Odamanov, and Shevket Useinov. Nothing was known about them for more than a day.
Dozens of people, including relatives of the detainees, activists, lawyers and journalists, came to the FSB building in Simferopol to demand information about the detainees. About 50 people, including journalists, were detained by riot police.
Bohdan Marusyak
