Upcoming Press Briefing (September 25th): Discussion on Human Rights Conditions in Crimea, Focus on Detained Political Dissidents

Upcoming Press Briefing (September 25th): Discussion on Human Rights Conditions in Crimea, Focus on Detained Political Dissidents

On Thursday, September 25, 2025, the Society for Endangered Peoples e.V. (GfbV) will host a press conference titled 'Conversation about the situation on the Crimean Peninsula and the fate of political prisoners.' The event will take place at the GfbV office in Berlin, Reinhardtstraße 27b, 10117 Berlin, starting at 11 am.

Dr. Franziska Davies, a prominent Eastern European historian and mentor to Appaz Kurtamet, the youngest Crimean Tatar politico, will be present at the conference and advocating internationally for his release and the rights of the Crimean Tatars.

Appaz Kurtamet, a Crimean Tatar who taught Crimean Tatar at the Crimean Tatar Cultural Center in Odessa, was arrested in July 2022 and sentenced to seven years in prison in April 2023 for alleged support of terrorism. His father was kidnapped, tortured, and sentenced to eight years in prison a year later.

Aishe Kurtamet, mother of Appaz Kurtamet and wife of Khalil Kurtamet, both political prisoners, is committed to their release. Other Crimean Tatar activists will also participate in the discussion.

Sarah Reinke, head of human rights work and Eastern Europe expert at GfbV, will report on the situation and the human rights situation on the peninsula in general. Elvis Çolpuh, Crimean Tatar human rights activist and founder of the European platform 'Assembly of Crimean Organizations,' will also participate in the event.

During the press conference, the current GfbV memorandum on the human rights situation in the Crimea will be presented. After the statements, there will be an opportunity for questions, photos, and individual interviews.

Registration for participation is required and can be done by email at [email protected]. To request an interview, please announce it in advance via email at [email protected] or by phone at 0551 49906-21.

For content-related questions, please contact Sarah Reinke at [email protected] or 0551 / 49906-13. The political and social background of the situation will be explained, and demands will be made on German politics.

It is important to note that out of the current 220 political prisoners from the Crimea, 133 are Crimean Tatars, despite making up no more than 12 percent of the population. The Crimean Tatars, indigenous people of the Crimea, are systematically persecuted on the peninsula illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Join us on September 25th to learn more about the current situation in the Crimea and how you can support the release of political prisoners like Appaz Kurtamet and the rights of the Crimean Tatars.