A court in the Moscow region approved the extension of the arrest of two Crimean Tatar activists

On March 25, the Military Court of Appeal of the city of Vlasikha (Moscow region) approved the extension of the arrest of Crimean Tatar activists from Bakhchisaray Ernest Ibragimov and Ali (Oleg) Fedorov.

Southern District Military Court (Rostov Region) on February 14 put them in pre-trial detention until May 28.

left Ernest Ibragimov and Ali Fedorov after massive searches of Crimean Tatar activists 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.

They were sent into custody and held in court in November, and they were arrested until February. The defense petitioned to change the preventive measure to house arrest: Ibragimov has four dependent young children, and Fedorov has an elderly mother.

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

sentenced 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.​