Five years ago, on May 12, 2016, Russian security forces carried out mass searches in the occupied Crimea in the dwellings of representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. As a result, Zevri Abseitov, Remzi Memetov, Rustem Abiltarov and Enver Mamutov were detained. They were accused of involvement in the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization banned in the Russian Federation. In December 2018, they were sentenced to terms ranging from 9 to 17 years in jail. In July 2019, when considering an appeal, the term of arrest for political prisoners was reduced by three months. They have been illegally detained for four years now.
.jpg)
On December 24, 2018, the North Caucasian District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced the defendants in the so-called first Bakhchisaray Hizb ut-Tahrir case. Enver Mamutov was sentenced to 17 years in a maximum security penal colony with a probation term of 1 year and 6 months, Zevri Abseitov, Remzi Memetov and Rustem Abiltarov were sentenced to 9 years in a maximum security penal colony with a probation term of 1 year.
While giving their last word, all the defendants involved in the so-called case noted that they did not consider themselves guilty, and also pointed to the politically-motivated nature of the criminal case.
On July 11, 2019, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation, when considering the appeal, reduced the sentence of the defendants in the first Bakhchisaray Hizb ut-Tahrir case: Enver Mamutov from 17 years to 16 years and 9 months (by 3 months), and Zevri Abseitov, Remzi Memetov and Rustem Abiltarov from 9 to 8 years and 9 months (by 3 months).
On the eve of the court session, Crimean Tatar activists took part in a protest rally on Red Square in Moscow against the persecution of Crimean Tatars in the occupied Crimea. Participants unfurled posters with the words “Stop persecution on ethnic and religious grounds,” “The fight against terrorism in Crimea is a fight against dissent,” "Our children are not terrorists." After the protest began, Russian police detained seven people. And on the day of the court session in front the courthouse, Russian police detained more than 50 people who came to support their compatriots.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center states that the decisions of the occupation courts and courts on the territory of the Russian Federation are illegal, politically motivated and criminal.
These unlawful decisions are directed against dissent and anyone who disagrees with Russia's illegal actions in Crimea. Thus, the aggressor country demonstrates the struggle against dissent, as well as the religious and political beliefs of people on the peninsula.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center states that the trial of Enver Mamutov, Zevri Abseitov, Remzi Memetov and Rustem Abiltarov is an example of xenophobia to the indigenous people of Crimea and the method of intimidation. Court decisions testify about the ongoing repression and pressure on the Crimean Tatars.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center demands the abolition of the verdict on the defendants in the so-called first Bakhchisaray Hizb ut-Tahrir case and the immediate release of other political prisoners.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center calls on the international community, international human rights organizations to increase pressure on the Russian Federation and the occupation authorities of Crimea in order to stop political persecution and cancel the previously issued court decisions.