On September 16, 2020, at the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don, the verdict was announced to the defendants of the second Bakhchisaray group of the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir case.
Timur Ibrahimov was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Art. 205.5. of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation was sentenced to 17 years of imprisonment in a strict regime colony and 1.5 years of probation.
Marlen (Suleyman) Asanov was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Art. 205.5. of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 19 years in a strict regime colony.
Memet Belyalov was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Art. 205.5. of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 18 years in a strict regime colony and 1.5 years of probation.
Seyran Saliiev was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 205.5. of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 16 years in a strict regime colony with a probation of 1 year.
Server Zakiryaev was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 205.5. of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 13 years in a strict regime colony.
Server Mustafayev was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 205.5. of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 14 years in a strict regime colony and a year of restriction.
Edem Smailov was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 205.5. of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of 13 years of strict regime with a probation of one year.
Ernest Ametov was found not guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 205.5. if the Criminal Code and released in the courtroom.
On October 11, 2017, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the dwellings of representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people in the occupied Crimea. As a result, Timur Ibrahimov, Marlen (Suleyman) Asanov, Memet Belyalov, Seyran Saliiev, Server Zakiryaev and Ernest Ametov were detained. They were charged under Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.”
By the decision of the so-called Kyiv District Court of Simferopol, all the detainees were arrested and held for about 3 years in a pre-trial detention center on trumped-up and unfounded charges.
On May 21, 2018, Edem Smailov and Server Mustafayev were detained in their homes and arrested in the framework of the same criminal case.
On September 12, 2019, eight defendants in the so-called second Bakhchisaray Hizb ut-Tahrir case – Marlen Asanov, Server Zakiryaev, Memet Belyalov, Seyran Saliiev, Ernest Ametov, Timur Ibrahimov, Edem Smailov and Server Mustafayev – were illegally transported from Crimea to Rostov.
On November 15, 2019, the Southern Military District Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don began considering this so-called case on the merits.
The defendants in this case are activists of the Crimean Tatar people and the Crimean Solidarity public association.
Marlen Asanov (born in 1977) – philologist and teacher of the Turkish and Crimean Tatar languages and literature, father of 4 children, laureate of the “Volunteer Prize – 2107", before his arrest – restaurateur and civil journalist of Crimean Solidarity public association.
Memet Belyalov (born in 1989) – a radio engineer, has a minor child, before his arrest – a consultant in a mobile phone salon, an activist of the Crimean Solidarity public association.
Server Zakiryaev (born in 1973) – physical education teacher, father of 13 children, before his arrest – an entrepreneur in the field of floristry, a volunteer of the Crimean Solidarity public association.
Timur Ibrahimov (born in 1985) – philologist of the English and Ukrainian languages, translator, father of 4 children, before his arrest – an entrepreneur in the field of IT and mobile communications, civic journalist of the Crimean Solidarity public association.
Server Mustafayev (born in 1986) – engineer, father of 4 children, before his arrest – manager of network enterprises, human rights activist, civic journalist, coordinator of the Crimean Solidarity public association.
Seyran Saliiev (born in 1985) – philologist of the Turkish and Crimean Tatar languages, father of 4 children, before his arrest – a guide, civic journalist of the Crimean Solidarity public association.
Edem Smailov (born in 1968) – engineer-physicist, father of 3 children, before his arrest – chairman of the religious community “Topchikoy”.
Ernest Ametov (born in 1985) – lawyer, father of 2 children, before his arrest – an entrepreneur and videographer of the Crimean Solidarity public association.
All of the so-called defendants reject terrorism charges and claim that they are being persecuted for political and religious reasons. In their resolutions, the UN General Assembly and the European Parliament have repeatedly called on the Russian Federation to immediately release all political prisoners in Crimea, including those involved in this case.
The indictment is based on the testimony of “hidden witnesses” and the conclusion of experts who actively cooperate with the FSB. The activists are accused of involvement in activities banned in the Russian Federation by the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has no restrictions on its activities in most countries of the world.
The so-called case was considered in gross violation of international law. The so-called defendants were systematically infringed on the right to liberty and security of person, the right to a fair trial, the right to an effective remedy, the right to respect for private and family life, freedom of thought, conscience and religion, freedom of expression, were subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment. Also, within the framework of this so-called case, the right to punishment solely on the basis of the law was violated, since the Russian Federation, as an occupying state in accordance with the IV Geneva Convention, has no right to extend its criminal legislation in the occupied territory in Crimea.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center strongly protests and declares that the decision is illegal, politically motivated and criminal.
This policy of the Russian Federation is a demonstration of the fight against dissent, as well as the religious and political beliefs of the people in the occupied Crimea. In addition, the decision of the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don testifies to the ongoing repression and pressure on the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.
The Russian Federation misuses its legislation for political purposes, in particular, with the aim of suppressing the non-violent struggle of the Crimean Tatars and their protest against the occupation of Crimea.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center demands the cancellation of the verdict of the defendants of the second Bakhchisaray Hizb ut-Tahrir case and the immediate release of other political prisoners.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center calls on the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation in order to end political persecution in Crimea, as well as to introduce personal sanctions against persons involved in human rights violations in Crimea.
Press Service of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center