Vedzhie Kashka’s case figurant Asan Chapukh intends to start his hunger strike

Crimean Tatar Asan Chapukh demands to release him from the pre-trial detention center. In case his claim is not fulfilled until June 1, Chapukh intends to start a hunger strike.

Lawyer Ayder Azamatov wrote on Wednesday, May 30.

«Asan-agha told the investigator and me that he and the others are kept for no reason. At the end of the conversation he warned that if they did not change the restraint measure for another without his deprivation of liberty until Friday (it is until June 1, 2018), he would go on a hunger strike. I tried to dissuade him, as previous times he had significantly declined his health because of the hunger strike. However, Asan-agha affirmes that the only way for him to stop such lawlessness is a hunger strike, since he simply does not have any other means to protect his right in the pre-trial detention center. And even if they are, they are not effective,» Azamatov wrote.

In addition, the lawyer informed about the earlier charges brought against Chapukh under the article on «extortion», combined with a new one as illegal possession of weapons. Azamatov also noticed on a complicated political prisoner’s health state.

«Asan-agha was disappointed with the way this case is being investigated, or rather its timing and general case progress, since during these 8 months of detention, nothing is changed there, and the law enforcement officers do nothing. He and other defendants are kept for no reason, thus he violently outraged by it. Sometimes he barely held back tears because of such injustice. He complained of his poor health and conditions of detention. He grumbled at constantly high blood pressure and headaches, his left leg dysfunction and insensibility. He stopped feeling the fingers on his right hand about a month ago,» said the lawyer.

In December 2017, lawyer Ayder Azamatov informed about his client’s health decline. According to him, Asan Chapukh had a micro-insult in the pre-trial detention center. Defendant asked for help from the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation employees, including even a written form, though they refused to provide him any medical care.

As to the website «15 minutes», on May 11,Kiev District Court in Simferopol extended the detention of political prisoners Bekir Degermendzhi, Asan Chapukh, Kyazim Ametov and Ruslan Trubach until July 7.

PHOTO: Anton Naumlyuk