Translated material
The Federal Penitentiary Service conducted searches of arrested Crimean Tatar activists in the Simferopol pre-trial detention center
Employees of the Federal Penitentiary Service conducted searches in the Simferopol pre-trial detention center in the cells in which Crimean Solidarity coordinator Server Mustafayev and citizen journalist Nariman Memedeminov are being held under arrest. Crimea writes about this. Realities" with reference to lawyers Lilya Gemedzhi and Emil Kurbedinov.
According to lawyers, during the searches, FSIN officers confiscated notebooks with notes relating to their criminal cases from the arrested. Defense attorneys note that this is a “gross violation of the accused’s right to defense.”
Gemedzhi notes that the search in the cell of her client, Server Mustafayev, was carried out twice - on May 26 and 28.
“Server’s notes were confiscated, which he made when familiarizing himself with the case materials, his notes regarding filing complaints, his comments regarding the line of defense at the upcoming trial. The seizure act was not drawn up,” Gemedzhi said .
According to Kurbedinov’s lawyer, the search in Memedeminov’s cell took place a week ago. During the search, all notebooks and records related to the criminal case and detention in the pre-trial detention center were confiscated. After several complaints, Memedeminov was returned the records that relate to familiarization with the case materials. At the same time, the FSIN never returned to the arrested person the records and statements about his persecution as an activist and the persecution of the Crimean Tatars.
- Citizen journalist Nariman Memedeminov was detained at the end of March 2018. He is accused of public calls for terrorism made via the Internet (Part 2 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code). The charge stemmed from videos the activist posted on YouTube in 2013 and 2014, while Crimea was under Ukrainian jurisdiction. In them, Memedeminov spoke about Islam and the activities of the political party Hizb ut-Tahrir. The activities of this organization are permitted on the territory of Ukraine.
- The coordinator of Crimean Solidarity, Server Mustafayev, was detained in May 2018. He is accused of participating in Hizb ut-Tahrir (Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code). Mustafayev’s case was added to the second Bakhchisarai case of Hizb ut-Tahrir. The defendants in this case are accused of participating in and organizing the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, as well as preparing for a violent seizure of power.
- Hizb ut-Tahrir is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation. Cases of terrorism have been opened in different regions of the country, but party members have not been found to be preparing attacks or terrorist attacks. Hizb ut-Tahrir members are sentenced to various prison terms solely on the basis that they held meetings and read religious literature. On the territory of Ukraine, the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir are permitted.