On Wednesday, July 7, Russian security forces raided the households of the Crimean Tatars in Krasnohvardiiske, Simferopol, Bakhchisaray regions and Alushta in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Searches were conducted in the dwellings of Emil Ziyadinov (Oktyabrske), Ismet Ibrahimov (Simferopol region, Kurtsi), Dyliaver Memetov (Alushta), Alim Sufyanov (Bakhchisaray region, Zaliznychne village), Seyran Khairetdynov (Bakhchisaray district, Bilokamyanka village), Oleksandr Syzykov (the house of his grandmother in Bakhchisaray region, Sevastyanivka village and his wife’s house in Oktyabrske region), Vadym Bektemyrov (Simferopol region, Kamyanka district), Zekirya Muratov (Alushta).
After the searches, 7 people were detained:
Seyran Khairetdynov, an organizer of Muslim holidays, actively attended trials in politically motivated cases against Crimean Tatars;
Oleksandr Syzykov – has a group I disability, completely lost his eyesight in 2009, participated in single pickets in support of political prisoner Edem Smailov;
Emil Ziyadinov – activist and video streamer; Ismet Ibrahimov – activist;
Alim Sufyanov is an activist who has actively attended trials in politically motivated cases against Crimean Tatars;
Vadym Bektemyrov – activist, religious leader;
Zekirya Muratov is an activist.
Dilyaver Memetov, who not at home during the search was put on the wanted list.
The detainees are charged with Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (organization of the activities of the “terrorist” organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir” and participation in its activities). The Crimean Tatar Resource Center strongly condemns these illegal actions of the Russian security forces. Such a policy of the Russian Federation is a demonstration of the fight against freedom of expression and belief, as well as the religious and political beliefs of people in the occupied Crimea.
The Russian Federation is misusing its legislation for political purposes, in particular to suppress the non-violent struggle of the Crimean Tatars and their protest against the occupation of Crimea.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center demands the immediate release of all political prisoners arrested on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center calls on the international community, to step up pressure on the Russian Federation and the occupying power of Crimea to end political persecution and to apply personal sanctions against persons involved in human rights violations in the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea.
Press service of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center