Riza Izetov
Riza Izetov–human rights defender, citizen journalist at “Crimean Solidarity”.
On the 10th of March, 2022, South District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Riza to the prison term of 19 years. He was accused of violating Chapter 1, Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation (“Organizing activities of the terrorist organization”, with the penalty of life prison term) and Chapter 1, Article 30 and Article 278 of the Criminal Code of Russian Federation (“Preparation of Forcible Seizure of Power”, with the penalty of up to 10 years of prison term). Riza has been under arrest since 27th of March, 2019.
On the basis of evidence presented in the court of the occupying state, Izetov was found guilty of being a member of a terrorist organization and preparing forcible seizure of power.
Riza Izetov was born on the 24th of January, 1979 in the city of Fergana, the country of Uzbekistan.
In the fifth grade, Riza and his family moved to Nizhnyogirskyi district of Crimea. In 1996, Riza successfully graduated from Simferopol School #24. With distinction, Riza graduated from law college in Simferopol, and in 1998 Riza was drafted for military service in the Rocket Forces of Ukraine. In 2000, Riza entered third year studies at Odesa Legal Academy, but the death of his father changed his plans and he has not finished his studies there.
Riza vigorously defended human rights issues, provided legal advice to the dwellers of Crimea and Crimean activists, who have stood up against repressions targeting Crimean Muslims. Riza took part in court hearings of politically motivated court cases and delivered packages to the political prisoners at detention centers.
On the 4th of June, 2015 Riza was detained for the first time. Izetov was forced by men, without insignia or other forms of identification, representing occupying power to follow them to the illegal “FSB head office”. Riza was later released; the people who had demonstrated outside the security services building and demanded his arrest were issued citations.
Next detention of Riza happened on the 21st of February, 2017. He was under arrest for five days for being present as a citizen journalist during the arrest of Marlen Musafayev in Kam’yanka. Then occupation authorities accused Riza of “taking part in unsanctioned demonstration, obstruction of transportation in the neighborhood”.
On the 30th of March, 2017, Izetov was again detained. Members of the illegal “Anti-Extremism Center at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia” have detained Izetov when he appeared in person to support activist Remzi Bekirov. Questioning was conducted in writing and he was released.
Then on the 11th of May, 2017 security forces of the occupying regime searched RIza’s house, after which he was taken to the illegal “Anti-Extremism Center” for interrogation.
After the next search, on the 27th of March, 2019, Riza was arrested, with accusations having no ground in fact.
Riza is married, with three children.
Place of detention: Federal State Institution (FSU) Detention Center-1 (DC) Chief Department of Federal Service of Corrections (CDFSC) in Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation
