The defendant in the so-called first Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case, Rustem Ismailov, was forcibly kept in a prison hospital for two months, although he did not need medical assistance. According to the political prisoner, for all the time in captivity (more than 3.5 years), this was the most difficult place of imprisonment. It is reported by the Crimean Solidarity public association.
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“For almost 2 months (13.02.2020-07.04.2020) I was in a prison hospital in the city of Ufa and I want to report that for all the time I was in captivity (more than 3.5 years), this was the most difficult place of imprisonment. First, I didn’t know the reason why I was in this hospital, because I didn’t need medical assistance and didn’t apply for it”,- Rustem’s letter says.
It is noted that the political prisoner repeatedly appealed to the authorities for an explanation of the reasons for his transfer to the hospital, but he did not receive answers and explanations. In addition, they did not give the opportunity to call and inform relatives about their presence there.
The defendant in the so-called case felt special pressure in the sphere of his religious rights. According to the man, a prayer rug, the Qurʼān, were taken from him, and they also demanded to shave his beard on a daily basis.
We remind that on October 12, 2016, Russian security forces in the village of Strohonivka of Simferopol region arrested five representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people – Uzeir Abdullaev, Teymur Abdullaev, Rustem Ismailov, Emil Dzhemadenov and Ayder Saledinov as a result of mass searches. They were accused of participating in the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization banned in the Russian Federation and charged with article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“organizing the activities of a terrorist organization and participating in it”).
On June 18, 2019, the North Caucasian District Military Court of the Russian Federation sentenced the so-called Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case defendants: Teymur Abdullaev to 17 years in a maximum security penal colony with a probation term of 1 year and 6 months, Rustem Ismailov – to 14 years, Uzeir Abdullaev – to 13 years, Ayder Saledinov and Emil Dzhemadenov – to 12 years.
On December 24, 2019, the Supreme Court in Moscow reduced the terms of imprisonment of the so-called Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case defendants by 6 months.