Russian Court Sentences Six Crimeans to Up to 19 Years in Prison

12 November 2019 14:14

A Southern District Military Court in Rostov—on—Don, Russia sentenced six Ukrainian figures in the so—called Yalta “Hizb ut—Tahrir case” to 7 to 19 years in a strict regime colony, RFE/RL reports.

The Southern District Military Court in Russia's Rostov-on-Don city has sentenced six Crimeans to between 7 to 19 years in a high-security prison, as part of the so-called “Hizb ut-Tahrir case.” This was reported by the Krym.Realii media project run by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty.

Muslim Aliyev was sentenced to 19 years, Inver Bekirov to 18 years, Emir-Useyin Kuku and Vadym Siruk to 12 years, Refat Alimov to 8 years, and Arsen Dzhepparov to 7 years.

The accused in this case were detained between February and April 2016 in the occupied Crimean city of Yalta. They are accused of involvement in the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir which is banned and deemed a terrorist group by Russia. In Ukraine, and most of the EU member states, as well as in the U.S., Hizb ut-Tahrir operates publicly and freely.

Furthermore, so far there are no facts that prove the connection of the accused to Hizb ut-Tahrir.