Crimean Tatar activists accused of terrorism were transferred to a special unit of the pre-trial detention center

In the Simferopol pre-trial detention center, Nariman Memedeminov, accused of public calls for terrorism, and Server Mustafayev, a defendant in the second Bakhchisaray Hizb ut-Tahrir case, were transferred to cells with tougher conditions of detention. Novaya Gazeta reports this.

As it became known, Memedinov and Mustafayev were transferred at different times to special posts - cells for two prisoners who are under enhanced control. As Memedinov’s lawyer Emil Kurbedinov found out, his client was presented with a report on being placed on the professional register, since he is involved in a terrorist case.

According to the document, professional supervision is introduced for prisoners who “study, disseminate, promote extremist ideology” and to prevent its spread among cellmates. Memedinov was transferred to a special unit after he refused to sign the report.

The same document was presented to Server Mustafayev in the absence of a lawyer; he was transferred to the special unit on January 26. Previously, he was sent for examination to a psychiatric hospital.

As Novaya Gazeta reports, from the beginning of 2019, rules for tightening the regime for those involved in extremist and terrorist cases in custody or imprisonment have come into force. The new rules also apply to those convicted and accused of banditry, sabotage and encroachment on the lives of law enforcement officers.

• Blogger and Crimean Solidarity activist Nariman Memedeminov was detained on March 22, 2018. Before this, a search was carried out in his house, during which the security forces broke down the door, behaved rudely, used obscene language, immediately put the activist on the floor and handcuffed him. Phones, a tablet and several books were confiscated from Memedeminov and his wife. He is accused of public calls for terrorism (Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Criminal Code) due to several videos about the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which he published on his YouTube channel.
• The coordinator of Crimean Solidarity, Server Mustafayev, was detained on May 21, 2018, together with Edem Smailov.
  According to investigators, at the end of 2016 Mustafayev participated in a meeting of Hizb ut-Tahrir followers in the mosque of the sixth microdistrict of Bakhchisarai. The men are accused of participating in a terrorist organization (Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code). After their arrest, their case was combined with another case of participation in Hizb ut-Tahrir, which involves six more Crimean Tatars.
• ​Hizb ut-Tahrir was declared terrorist by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation. However, a number of experts from human rights organizations, including the SOVA Center, believe that there is no reason for this - members of Hizb ut-Tahrir were not seen to be involved in committing or preparing terrorist attacks.