The Russian human rights center Memorial recognized 4 more defendants in the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir case as political prisoners, who are being persecuted for political reasons in connection with their non-violent exercise of the rights to freedom of conscience, religion, association and peaceful assembly. The center demands the immediate release of Ruslan Mesutov, Lenur Khalilov, Ruslan Nagaev and Eldar Kantimirov. This was reported via the website of the center.
“The Human Rights Center Memorial, according to the international guidelines on the definition of" political prisoner, considers the Crimean Tatars Eldar Kantimirov, Ruslan Mesutov, Ruslan Nagaev and Lenur Khalilov as political prisoners. Muslims were imprisoned in connection with their non-violent exercise of the right to freedom of conscience and religion associations. We demand their immediate release”,- the message said.
We remind that on June 10, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the dwellings of Crimean Tatars in Alushta, Bilohirsk and Simferopol. As a result, 8 people were detained on suspicion of their involvement in the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization banned in the Russian Federation. On June 10 and 11, the so-called Kyiv District Court of Simferopol chose a preventive measure in the form of detention until August 5 for the Crimean Tatars detained after searches – Riza Omerov, Enver Omerov, Ayder Dzhepparov, Eskender Suleymanov, Ruslan Nagaev, Eldar Kantimirov, Ruslan Mensutov and Lenur Khalilov. On October 31, the so-called Kyiv District Court of Simferopol once again extended their arrest until February 5, 2020.
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.