On Wednesday, April 17, the political prisoner Refat Alimov, previously sentenced to 8 years in prison with a 1-year restriction of freedom, was released.
Now the man is heading home to Crimea.
Let us remind, that Refat Alimov, together with Emir-Husein Kuku, Vadim Siruk, Muslim Aliev, Enver Bekirov and Arsen Dzhepparov were detained on April 18, 2016 on charges of participation in the organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir”. They were charged under Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“organization of the activities of a terrorist organization and participation in it”). Later, they were charged with Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Forcible seizure of power or forcible retention of power”).
On November 12, 2019, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don announced the verdict against the defendants in the Yalta “Hizb ut-Tahrir case”. Muslim Aliev and Inver Bekirov were sentenced to 19 and 18 years in a strict regime colony, Emir-Husein Kuku and Vadim Siruk – to 12 years, Refat Alimov – to 8 years, Arsen Dzhepparov – to 7 years.