The court reduced the sentence of the owner of the Crimean Tatar TV channel, sentenced in absentia to 19 years

The Third Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction, located in Sochi, changed the sentence of Lenur Islyamov, director general of the Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR, reducing the sentence from 19 to 18 years. It is reported by "Crimea. Realities".

In December 2020, Islyamov was found guilty on all counts: under the article on organizing an illegal armed group in connection with comments to the Ukrainian media about plans to create a battalion in Crimea to “liberate” the region (Article 208 of the Criminal Code), under the article on the implementation of sabotage in connection with the “energy blockade” of Crimea (Article 281 of the Criminal Code), as well as under the article on public calls to violate the territorial integrity of Russia (Article 280.1 of the Criminal Code) in connection with statements that Crimea should be returned to Ukraine (there are only six such episodes).

The verdict was delivered in absentia. As punishment, Islyamov was sentenced to 19 years in prison in a strict regime colony with 1 year of restriction of freedom and 2 years of a ban on activities related to the media.

The Court of Appeal changed the verdict: the term of imprisonment was reduced to 18 years, and the ban on participation in the activities of the media was also canceled.

Islyamov's lawyer Nikolay Polozov insisted on the acquittal of his client.

• During the debate on the businessman's case, the prosecutor demanded 19 years in prison. Islyamov’s lawyers said that their client does not admit guilt and considers the case to be persecution for his position regarding the territorial affiliation of Crimea.
• In August 2019, it became known that the Crimean Tatar activist Edem Bekirov was forced to testify against the Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatars Refat Chubarov, the leader of the Crimean Tatars Mustafa Dzhemilev and the Crimean Tatar businessman Lenur Islyamov. The security forces demanded that Bekirov declare that Chubarov, Dzhemilev and Islyamov were preparing a terrorist act in Crimea. Bekirov is accused of illicit trafficking in weapons and explosives. On September 7, 2019, Edem Bekirov, previously detained and taken into custody in Crimea, returned to the territory of Ukraine as a result of an exchange of persecuted persons between the Russian and Ukrainian sides. On May 14, 2020, the court resumed consideration of his case, but suspended it on May 22 , declaring Bekirov wanted.
• In 2016, Islyamov was put on the federal wanted list.