Members of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Ilmi Umerov and Ahtem Chiygoz convicted in Crimea have been handed over to Turkey, Mustafa Jemilev, the Ukrainian president's authorized representative for Crimean Tatar people affairs, told Ukrayinska Pravda Internet publication
According to him, Chiygoz and Umerov were first brought to Simferopol, then a plane took them to Anapa, and about an hour ago an airplane with the Mejlis deputies left for Ankara.
Jemilev added that this exchange was possible due to the agreements reached during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Ukraine.
On September 11, a court in Russia-annexed Crimea sentenced Chiygoz to eight years in a strict-regime colony. His defense team filed two appeals against this court decision. The Russian authorities of the occupied Crimea charged him with organizing mass riots.
On September 27, a Kremlin-controlled court in Simferopol sentenced Umerov to two years in in prison.
Deputies of the European Parliament condemned the verdicts passed by the Russian authorities with respect to Umerov and Chiygoz.