The investigation into the case of the imam of the Moscow mosque Makhmud Velitov has been completed

The Investigative Committee has completed the investigation of the criminal case against Imam Mahmud Velitov, he is accused of publicly justifying terrorism. In addition, Velitov's preventive measure was changed from house arrest to a written undertaking not to leave the country. about this with reference to lawyer Dagir Khasavov. writes RAPSI

The accusation was reclassified as “public calls for terrorist activities or public justification of terrorism” (Part 1 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code). Previously, the imam was accused of "publicly justifying terrorism, committed with the use of the media" (Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code).

The imam of the Yardyam mosque in Moscow, Velitov, was detained on July 11 and placed under house arrest. According to investigators, on September 23, 2013, Velitov publicly delivered a speech in a mosque justifying the activities of activist Abdulla Gappaev, who was killed in Kizlyar. Gappaev was suspected of involvement in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization that is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation and banned, according to human rights activists, without reason.

The defense complaint also stated that the linguistic expertise that analyzed Velitov's speech did not correspond to the alleged crime, and the authenticity of the imam's speech was not confirmed. Velitov himself stated that he did not know that Gappaev belonged to a banned organization. According to him, he "simply responded with a kind word about the deceased, as Allah bequeathed to do."