Russia’s Supreme Court has taken a mere two hours or so to consider the flawed charges against five Crimean Tatar political prisoners, and the lack of any evidence to back them, before upholding each of the men’s convictions. It is unclear whether the 6-month reductions in the sentences were supposed to make the judges feel better about imprisoning innocent men, or merely part of the pretense that the judges are there to do more than sign documents. Russia is in grave violation of international law over its prosecutions in occupied Crimea and in breach of fundamental human rights in imprisoning men for peacefully practicing their faith.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Halya Coynash: Russia reduces horrific sentences against 5 Tatars
A man holds his son and the National flag of Crimean Tatars during a memorial ceremony on the Independence square in Kyiv on May 18, 2019 in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the deportation of the indigenous population of the Crimea by the Soviet Union.
