Letter from a political prisoner

I was deeply touched by these strong words of resilience from Server Mustafaiev, a Crimean Human Rights activist, who has been held in detention in Russia since his arrest on 21 May 2018. Last time when I talked to Server over Video conference, he was a Human Rights activist, he now is a political prisoner.

Please read this letter, hear Server's courage and dedication.

Dear Rebecca,

I am Server Mustafaiev, born on May 5, 1986, now a prisoner of conscience and political prisoner of the Kremlin. 

I am sorry for taking the liberty of defining and pronouncing myself as part of the political category “prisoner of the Kremlin”. However, as subjects of Russia's repression for the past 4 years of our Crimean reality, it is almost the only way to draw international attention to the objective view of the Crimean Tatar's situation.

We have to convince the world that since 2014, despite all the resolutions and decisions taken by the international institutions, repression and persecution on the grounds of national belonging or religious belief are taking place in the internationally recognized “Ukrainian” Crimea. Unfortunately, beyond the dozens of missing people, we now count over 70 arrested individuals and more than 10 killed, we also face repeated incidents of torture, and endless attempts of intimidation aimed at inducing cooperation from the local security services.

Today more than 115 children are growing up without their father’s upbringing, left without their care and love. The mothers and wives of dozens of the political prisoners are under constant mental, psychological and emotional pressure. And it does not simply pass with time, without leaving a mark, but causes many chronic diseases.

The unstoppable Russian repressive policy in Crimea just contributes to the general awareness on the political situation. All the repression, the arrests, and punishments lead to a consolidation and unification of the people.

Thanks to God, we met before my arrest. I hope, you remember me from the two video-conferences, where we had the chance to discuss together: one regarding the concrete daily life and what it means to live in occupied Crimean and another conference which has been organized by a peaceful civil association. “Crimean solidarity” volunteers to cover and disclose to the rest of the country and the world the illegal activity and the impunity characteristic of the developments in occupied Crimea. They also provided legal assistance to prisoners.

The projects “Bizim Balalar”, “Crimean Childhood” initiated by “Crimean solidarity” were created to offer material and mental support to the families and children of prisoners, and the detainees themselves. They insure that the aggressor does not achieve its goal of destroying the Crimean Tatar people, their faith and strength of will; it hinders the current authorities and their regime to deceive the world by hiding the developments, and unfolding situation of the 4 past years and events taking place in Crimea since 26 February 2014. Obviously, the impunity bound to the political conjuncture in both Crimea and Ukraine, the helplessness with which the injustice of the repression is met, sow thoughts of hopelessness among some of us.

However, the young activists of the civil association are full of faith. They are confident that relief will follow the burden, and that the lie is fading.

They persist to work hard, sacrificing their freedom and even their lives, for their people, their motherland. This way they are displaying the true interests of the people, and the path towards development and solutions.

We are not asking for rewards. Our everyday and our motivation is helping our people, being honest and fair, and drawing the world's attention to inhumane developments affecting the whole population of Crimea. We would like to raise the attention to the violation of many international laws, fundamental values, norms and conventions. Any acceptance or willing ignorance of such violence leads to distrust, and highlights the failure of the international laws and treaties.

Through your own experience and our personal direct exchange, you can objectively evaluate the indiscriminate accusations of terrorism which are held against me, as well as against other men who like me refused to keep silent and spoke out, and were deceived, slandered and arrested because of their civic point of view.

We, I personally and the others imprisoned in “Ekaterina’s jails”, do not regret our choice to follow the path of peaceful resistance in defense of the rights of the Crimean Tatar and Crimean Muslims, and all other political prisoners.

Even if I am the only political prisoner that you know personally, you can see that anti-terrorism and anti-extremism laws in Russia - especially in Crimea - are an obvious tool to combat dissent. I am being prosecuted for my opinions, just like the other prisoners among whom journalists and human rights activists. However, how quick is the international community’s response? Unfortunately, it has been pending for over 4 years. But, it did not stop us. And, as long as our hearts are beating and blood flows through our veins, we won't stop. Dozens of new activists, journalists, and human rights defenders will replace us.

Truth always triumphs over evil.

See you outside.

Faithfully yours,

Server Mustafaiev

Server is one in many cases, but through his personal destiny, we can understand a lot about the current devastating situation faced by Human Rights activists in Crimea. This is what life is like on the inside. We cannot forget him and the other prisoners fighting this fight from a prison cell. Neither is it acceptable that they have to fight on their own.

While their families are torn apart, and the future grows more and more uncertain, the rest of the world is celebrating the Football World Cup, and Russian officials pose as a welcoming host... a regime that robs critics of their freedoms.

In a democracy, respect of fundamental rights is not an option. By remaining silent FIFA is not only breaking its own rules, it is endorsing an authoritarian regime at the cost of the freedom of people like Server Mustafaiev.