On Friday, February 11, Russian police officers detained three civic journalists – Ali Suleimanov, Amar Abdulgaziev and Rustem Useinov, who had come for the sentencing of Zekirya Muratov and Vadym Bektemyrov. The security forces tried to take away video equipment from journalists, and also refused to let them into the courtroom.
“Journalists Ali Suleimanov, Amar Abdulgaziev and Rustem Useinov were detained by law enforcement officers without explanation and taken to Police Department No. 3 Central in Simferopol. Correspondents were at the building of the Crimean Garrison Military Court, where lawyers spoke via video link at the announcement of the verdict for two Crimean Tatar political prisoners – Zekirya Muratov and Vadym Bektemyrov”,- the report said.
After two hours of detention, the journalists were released. The occupants tried to take fingerprint and DNA samples from them, but all journalists refused the procedure.
We remind you that on February 11, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don announced the verdict to the defendants in the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir case. Zekirya Muratov was sentenced to 11 years and 6 months in a strict regime colony, Vadym Bektemyrov – to 11 years.