U.S. calls on Russia to free Ilmi Umerov
The United States of America called on Russia to release Ilmi Umerov, deputy head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People.
“The United States is deeply troubled by the September 27, conviction and two-year prison sentence for Crimean Tatar leader Ilmi Umerov in Russian-occupied Crimea. He was convicted for his opposition to Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and given a harsher sentence than the Russian occupation prosecutor requested. This compounds past injustices in the case, including his confinement for several weeks of punitive psychiatric treatment in 2016. We call on the Russian occupation authorities to immediately release Umerov and vacate his conviction. Crimea remains an integral part of Ukraine, and the United States remains steadfast in its support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.,” said State Department spokesman Heather Nauert in a statement which was made public on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
The State Department stressed that the Crimea remains an integral part of Ukraine, and the U.S. is adamant in upholding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine.
On September 27, the Simferopol District Court, under the control of Russian authorities, convicted Umerov of calling for separatism and sentenced him to two years in prison in a colony settlement.