Osman Arifmemetov’s book was presented at the Crimean stage “The Land of Dreams” where more than 120 letters were written to political prisoners

On 22 June, during the “The Land of Dreams” festival in Kyiv, the Crimean stage hosted a presentation of the book “My deportation. Reports of a Crimean journalist written in detention“. Its author, Crimean Tatar citizen journalist and political prisoner Osman Arifmemetov, is currently serving an unlawful sentence in a high-security penal colony in the Russian Federation.

Viktoriia Nesterenko, Oleksandra Yefymenko, Mariia Horbach, Alona Savchuk

During the presentation, Project Manager at the Human Rights Centre ZMINA and editor of the book, Viktoriia Nesterenko, spoke about the idea behind the book and the path to its publication. Translator Mariia Horbach shared her experience of working on Osman’s texts, written while he was in detention. She emphasised that her main task was to preserve the authenticity of the author’s voice.

Journalist Oleksandra Yefymenko, who travelled to occupied Crimea and reported on persecution under occupation, emphasised the importance of citizen journalism as a source of truth on the occupied peninsula. She also stressed that Osman’s book is not just a personal story, but a document of the times that allows us to understand what is really happening in the occupied territories.

“Russia constantly tries to distort history, to twist it. And books like these are valuable to us. They are an opportunity to convey the truth and counter Russian propaganda. And to spread the word of truth“, emphasised Oleksandra Yefymenko.

Journalist Alona Savchuk, who has also been covering the occupation and political persecution for many years and knows Osman personally, spoke about him as a person and the power of his writing: “No one can talk about Crimea like people who have experienced it first-hand. Osman’s book is exactly that voice. He speaks for himself and on his own behalf“.

Alona also recalled her first meetings with Osman and his friend Remzi Bekirov in Crimea. She described Osman as “quiet, balanced, but with an analytical mind and a deep need to understand the world around him” and emphasised: “When he writes, I feel everything — the cold, the stench, the smell of coffee, which he hasn’t drunk for five years. His texts are the truth that has broken through the walls of prisons and censorship“.

At the end of the presentation, the speakers read excerpts from the book that particularly impressed them. Viktoriia Nesterenko emphasised the importance of bringing Osman’s voice to a wider audience and encouraged people to buy the book: “I have already recommended this book to many people and I really hope that those who read it will be touched by it and will also recommend it to others. Because writing the truth while in prison is incredibly difficult“.

“My deportation” was published in May 2025 by Vikhola Publishing House on the initiative of the Human Rights Centre ZMINA and with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.

The book is available for order in both print and electronic formats:

• Print version: https://bit.ly/4lqVM2h
• E-book version: https://bit.ly/3HhoWkK

In addition to the presentation, the Crimean stage hosted an exhibition “Crimea through the eyes of citizen journalists” by the Human Rights Centre ZMINA on political persecution in Crimea and a campaign “Letters to a Free Crimea“, during which everyone could write a letter to Ukrainian political prisoners. In total, more than 120 letters of support were written.

For reference:

This year’s “The Land of Dreams” festival took place from 20 to 22 June at the National Botanical Garden named after M.M. Hryshka. The Crimean stage programme was created with the support of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Crimean Platform Office, the CrimeaDaily media initiative, Crimean House, TRO Media, NGO CrimeaSOS, the Crimean figs (Qırım inciri) literary project, the Crimean Studies educational centre, and the Human Rights Centre ZMINA. Media partner: QIRIM.Media.