On April 17, the term of imprisonment of political prisoner Arsen Dzhepparov sentenced to 7 years ended.‍

“After my release, I am undergoing a medical examination, because over these 7 years a lot of health problems have accumulated. I spent the last six months in punishment cell, where I began to feel severe pains in the stomach. Of course, I didn’t receive any medical help then. Now I have an enlarged spleen and severe inflammation of the pancreas,” the man told the Association.

Arsen’s sentence is still pending – according to the court’s decision, after spending 7 years in the colony, he has a 1-year restriction of liberty. This involves many prohibitions and rules: he must regularly report to the authorities, he is not allowed to attend public events or go out from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., etc.“I plan to look for a job, but it will be extremely difficult to find a job because of my criminal record and such a serious article. Especially this year, when the restriction of liberty is still in force,” commented the former prisoner.

Dzhepparov is not going to leave his native Crimea. All his relatives and friends who all this time have been waiting for Arsen’s return live in Yalta.

‍In prison in the city of Salavat, where Dzhepparov was illegally detained, there were other Crimean Muslims: Uzeir Abdullaiev, Emil Dzhemadinov, Enver Seitosmanov, Emir-Usein Kuku and Refat Alimov. According to Arsen, the guys do not despair and send “Asalamu Alaikum” and words of gratitude to all.

‍As a reminder, Arsen was detained in 2016 in occupied Yalta. He was accused of involvement in the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, forbidden in Russia. On November 12, 2019, the Southern district military court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced the Crimean Tatar to 7 years in prison.