The arrest of two persons involved in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case was extended for three months. • OVD-Info • RIMA

The arrest of two persons involved in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case was extended for three months.

The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don extended the arrest of the defendants in the second Bakhchisaray Hizb ut-Tahrir case, Ernest Ibragimov and Ali (Oleg) Fedorov, for three months. Crimean Solidarity reports this.

Ibragimov and Fedorov will remain in pre-trial detention until February 28, 2022. Their defenders asked to change the measure of restraint to house arrest, but the judge rejected this request. Ibragimov has four dependent young children, and Fedorov has an elderly mother.

Ernest Ibragimov and Ali Fedorov were sent into custody after massive searches of Crimean Tatar activists carried out by the FSB in February 2021. The men are charged with participating in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist (Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code) - the Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned in Russia.

Ernest Ibragimov worked as a cook in the Salachik cafe, the owner of which, Marlen Asanov, was sentenced to 19 years of maximum security on charges of organizing the Bakhchisarai branch of Hizb ut-Tahrir (Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code). After Asanov’s arrest, he became involved in activism in the “Crimean Solidarity” and “Crimean Childhood” projects.

Ali Fedorov attended politically motivated court hearings, took part in information campaigns in support of Crimean Tatar political prisoners and provided financial support to their families.

The Islamist party Hizb ut-Tahrir is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation. In different regions of Russia, as well as in Crimea, cases are being brought against alleged party members for the activities of a terrorist organization. At the same time, members of Hizb ut-Tahrir were not seen preparing attacks or terrorist attacks. Defendants are sentenced to varying 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.