"Letters to a free Crimea": Akim Halimov joined the campaign to draw attention to all Ukrainian citizens illegally convicted by Russia

Akim Halimov, producer of 1+1 Media and founder of the Real History project, joined the Letters to a Free Crimea initiative. The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea initiated the project. 

As part of the campaign, Akim Halimov recited a letter from political prisoner Rustem Tairov, which he wrote in November 2022. In civilian life, Rustem is a cook, but in August 2021, the invaders illegally sentenced him to 12 years in prison for religious and social activities and resistance to the occupation regime. According to the latest information, Rustem Tairov is in jail in the Vladimir region. In the letter itself, the man talks about his gratitude and the joyful feelings that he experienced as a result of receiving the support of his fellow citizens:

"Today, I want to share my joy with you—joy with tears in my eyes. Yes, it happens to men. As my friend said, "I've become sentimental here." Probably, everyone who has been imprisoned, who has left their home and is not guilty, becomes a little sentimental.

You can watch the video developed as part of the campaign here. The main goal of the Letters to a Free Crimea initiative is to draw attention to all Ukrainian citizens illegally convicted by Russia and to remind them of the Kremlin's prisoners in captivity by writing a letter in their support. 

As of May 2024, 217 Crimean political prisoners are in captivity, 132 of whom are Crimean Tatars. We emphasize that everyone has the opportunity to write words of support for the illegally imprisoned prisoners of the Kremlin. You can join the initiative on the Mission's official website. 

The initiative's organizers are the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, PEN Ukraine, ZMINA Human Rights Center, and the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine.