On January 11, 2021, the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don held a final so-called court session in the “Bilohirsk Hizb ut-Tahrir case”. Enver Omerov, Riza Omerov and Ayder Dzhepparov were sentenced.
Enver Omerov was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 1 of Article 205.5, Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Riza Omerov was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 205.5, Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to 13years in prison.
Ayder Dzhepparov was found guilty of committing a crime under Part 2 of Article 205.5, Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
All three men, residents of the Bilohirsk district of Crimea, were detained on June 10, 2019. Riza Omerov and Ayder Dzhapparov – after searches in their homes, and Enver Omerov – on the way to court hearing in Rostov-on-Don. (He is the father-in-law of Rustem Ismailov, a defendant in the so-called first “Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case”).
Enver Omerov (born in 1961) – public activist, organizer of the religious holidays in Bilohirsk, volunteer;
Riza Omerov (born in 1988) – activist, worked as a sales representative;
Ayder Dzhepparov (born in 1980) – an installer in the field of water supply and sewerage, heating, ventilation and air conditioning and energy at various small and large private facilities, activist, carried out human rights activities.
On June 3, 2020, the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don began hearing the case on the merits of the so-called Bilohirsk Hizb ut-Tahrir case. The accusation is based on the testimony of the so-called hidden witnesses and the conclusion of experts who actively cooperate with the FSB. The only evidence in this “case” were audio recordings which recorded that the convicts had discussions on religious and political topics. Activists are accused of participation in the activities of prohibited in Russia organization in “Hizb ut-Tahrir”, which has no restrictions on activities in most countries of the world.
The so-called case was considered with gross violation of international law. The defendants were systematically restricted in their 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, and inhuman and degrading treatment, that degrades dignity. Also in this so-called case the right to punishment was violated solely on the basis of law, because the Russian Federation, as an occupying power under the IV Geneva Convention, has no right to extend its criminal law in the occupied territory of Crimea.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center strongly protests and claims that this 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 decisions of the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don testify 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 in the so-called Bilohirsk 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 impose personal sanctions against those responsible for human rights violations on the territory of Crimea.
Press service of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center