Dzhemilev: Turkey does not exclude Umerov’s and Chiygoz’s release as an example for exchanging of Sentsov and Kolchenko (VIDEO)
The releasing script for the Crimean Tatar’s Mejlis deputies’ chairman, Ilmi Umerov and Akhtem Chiygoz, may be repeated for the Ukrainian political prisoners, Oleg Sentsov and Alexander Kolchenko.
The Ukrainian President’s Representative on Crimean Tatar People Affairs Mustafa Dzhemilev expressed his opinion during the program «Maybutne Kryma» («Crimean Future») on ATR TV channel.
It is about Turkey as an intermediary in the exchange of political prisoners between Ukraine and Russia.
«Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that Putin simply does not give anything away. Yes, we know that Chyigoz and Umerov were exchanged for two professional killers, GRU officers, who were engaged in Chechen dissidents’ murder. Nevertheless I stated whether perhaps they had these gangsters in stock and would exchange all the same for our patriots. The respond was: «We’ll think about it». So, such an exchange is not excluded. In any case, I consider we are able to achieve this, because these people’s life is of great value for us,» Mustafa Dzhemilev highlighted.
Full video «Maybutne Kryma» with the authorized representative of the President of Ukraine on the Crimean Tatar People Affairs, Mustafa Dzhemilev, can be viewed here.
As you know, in May 2014 in Crimea, Russian special services detained the Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, activist Alexander Kolchenko and several other Ukrainians. Ukrainians were accused of terrorism. Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in a strict regime colony and Kolchenko to 10 years.
On October 25, 2017, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatats deputies Ilmi Umerov and Ahtam Chyigoz were released from criminal liability. According to Mustafa Dzhemilev, Crimean Tatars’ liberation was the result of negotiations between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin.