The prisoner in the Hizb-ut-Tahrir case is being transferred to Yekaterinburg. He is again accused of terrorism

Asgat Khafizov, sentenced to 19 years in prison in the Hizb-ut-Tahrir case, is being transferred from SIZO No. 7 of the Chelyabinsk Region to SIZO No. 1 in Yekaterinburg. About this OVD-Info, on condition of anonymity, said a source familiar with the situation. He became aware of this on November 2.

Asgat Khafizov is accused of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization (part 2 of article 205.5 of the Criminal Code) and inciting to terrorist activities or recruitment (part 1.1 of article 205.1 of the Criminal Code).

As indicated in the case file on the court's website, the preliminary hearing at the Central District Military Court in Yekaterinburg took place on October 13. As a result, the first meeting was scheduled. It is not known whether the accused took part in the hearing. The first meeting was postponed due to the fact that Khafizov was not taken to Yekaterinburg. How long it will take to move is unknown.

The fact that new criminal cases were opened against Asgat Khafizov became known in May 2020. The source reports that the investigation took communication with a coreligionist for recruitment.

In December 2017, the Volga District Military Court in Kazan sentenced Asgat Khafizov to 19 years and 2 months in a strict regime colony because of his participation in Hizb ut-Tahrir. He was found guilty under articles on organizing the activities of terrorist (part 1 of article 205.5 of the Criminal Code) and extremist (part 1 of article 282.2 of the Criminal Code) organizations. At the same court, sentences of 16 to 19 years in prison were announced to seven more defendants in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case.

• The Islamist party "Hizb ut-Tahrir" is recognized in Russia as a terrorist organization. Cases of terrorism have been opened in different regions of the country, while members of the cells of the organization are accused and sentenced to various terms in a strict regime colony only on the basis that they met in apartments, read religious literature and recruited new members.
• According to a number of experts, Hizb ut-Tahrir is wrongfully recognized as a terrorist organization, since its members in Russia have never advocated violence or prepared terrorist acts. According to the Memorial Human Rights Center, as of October 20, 2020, there are 309 people on the incomplete list of those persecuted in cases of Hizb ut-Tahrir.