The defense team asks to change the restriction measure and put the Crimean Tatar under home arrest

The so-called 'Kyiv district court' in annexed Crimea has prolonged the detention period for Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov until April 12. Crimean Solidarity reported that on February 7.

The lawyer admitted that he asked the court to change the restriction measure and put the Crimean Tatar under home arrest; however, the judges ignored his arguments.

'My defendant is the one-legged disabled man. Where would he go? Over two months, no investigation activities were conducted, except for those taken in the very beginning. I think over the next two months, they show him the expertise results - at best. He or his family that is present here at the session hall could take care of him. There are no reasons to hold him in the detention facility for another two months', he said.

The prosecution supported the appeal of the investigation team, admitting that Bekirov has Ukrainian citizenship, so he could 'run to the neighboring state'.

As we reported earlier, the Russian law enforcers detained Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov at the entrance to the occupied Crimea from Chongar, as the Chairman of Mejlis of Crimean Tatars Refat Chubarov wrote on Facebook.

“On December 12, 2018, Ukrainian citizen, a Crimean Tatar Edem Bekirov was detained at the entrance to the occupied Crimea. He was born in 1961, he lives in Novooleksiivka, Kherson region. It is known that Edem was heading to Crimea to visit his 78-year-old mother and relatives,” the message says.

According to Chubarov, Berkirov was arrested during passport control on the territory controlled by the Russian law enforcers. Later, Chubarov noted that the detainee was taken to Russia’s Security Service office in the annexed Simferopol.

Related: Health situation of Crimean Tatar political prisoner Bekirov is critical

Related: “Russia, release Bekirov!”: U.S. Embassy urges Russia to release political prisoner