Ahtem Chiygoz says prosecutors exert pressure on judges

The key defendant of the “February 26 case”, Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Ahtem Chiygoz, has stated that he is being kept in custody because of his political opinions.

He believes that in such a way the occupying power is trying to intimidate the entire Crimean Tatar people, he said at the court hearing for consideration of the appeal against the extension of his arrest, rejected by the Russian Supreme Court of Crimea on February 4.

“There is a personal interest, and the prosecutor’s office exerts all the possible pressure on the judges. It is useless to hope for prudence. The arguments presented by the prosecutor’s office are so far-fetched that they are no compliment to the judicial system and the law enforcement bodies of the Russian Federation,” Crimea. Realities portal quotes Chiygoz as saying.

 Chiygoz reminded that he was not going to hide or leave Crimea.

“I consider that I am held hostage for my political opinions. They try to intimidate all the people by my arrest. All the problems, felt by the power and the prosecutor’s office in Crimea, are tried to be put on me. The prosecutors repeatedly said that on court hearings. All the judges are hostages and justice is out of the question,” Chiygoz said.

According to him, the judges, who have broken the oath, take revenge against him for his defiant stand.

As reported, January 15, the prosecutors read the indictment to the defendants in the case – Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Ahtem Chiygoz and Crimean Tatar activists Ali Asanov and Mustafa Degermendzhy.

They are accused of participation in mass events near the building of the Crimean Parliament on February 26, 2014. Then the clash occurred between the supporters and the opponents of the Russian government. Two protesters were killed.