On 19 September, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation left unchanged the verdict of Crimean Tatar activist Yashar Shikhametov, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. This was reported by ‘Crimean Solidarity’.
Shikhametov’s defence insisted on the cancellation of the verdict, claiming that the charges have no legal grounds. According to the lawyer Emil Kurbedinov, in accordance with the current legislation, the party ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’, participation in which Shikhametov is incriminated, is not recognised as a terrorist organization, which makes the prosecution of the activist illegal.
At the trial, Shikhametov stated that he was not a terrorist and had always lived a peaceful life. He described how his home was searched at four in the morning, after which he was accused of terrorism and given a harsh sentence.
Kurbedinov also said that Shikhametov’s health deteriorated significantly during his imprisonment and he was almost disabled.
The Crimean Tatar Resource Center recalls that on 17 February 2021, Russian security forces conducted a military operation against Crimean Tatars in Belogorsk, Bakhchisaray, Simferopol, Sevastopol and other areas of occupied Crimea. Seven searches were conducted in the homes of activists who were charged under Article 205.5 of the rf Criminal Code. The Kyiv and Leninsky district ‘courts’ chose a measure of restraint in the form of detention for the detained Crimean Tatars. Among the detainees are Ernest Ibragimov, Timur Yalkabov, Azamat Eyupov, Oleg Fedorov, Lenur Seidametov and Yashar Shikhametov.