Translated material
Those involved in the fourth Bakhchisarai case of Hizb ut-Tahrir have had their preventive measures extended again
The Southern District Military Court extended until October 20 the preventive measure for three defendants in the fourth Bakhchisaray case of Hizb ut-Tahrir. It is reported by "Crimean solidarity".
Crimean activists Alim Sufyanov and Seyran Khayredinov will remain in custody in a pre-trial detention center. The preventive measure in the form of house arrest was extended to the disabled person of the first group Alexander Sizikov. They have been under arrest since the summer of 2020.
The state prosecutor justified the continuation of the measure of restraint by the fact that the defendants can hide, destroy evidence in the case and influence witnesses who have not yet been fully interrogated.
Sizikov's lawyer, Safiye Shabanova, noted that her client, due to his disability, could not have been able to destroy the evidence. The defense lawyer added that the prosecution did not take into account the positive characteristics of the defendants.
The men are accused of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, all of them are charged with an article on preparing for a violent seizure of power (Article 278 of the Criminal Code with the application of Part 1 of Article 30 of the Criminal Code). In addition, Sizikov is charged with an article on organizing the activities of a terrorist organization (part 1 of article 205.5 of the Criminal Code), and Khairedinov and Sufyanov are charged with participation in such activities (part 2 of article 205.5 of the Criminal Code).
Three defendants, as well as defendants in other Hizb ut-Tahrir cases — Ismet Ibragimov, Vadim Bektemirov, Emil Ziyadinov and Zekirya Muratov — were detained in July 2020. Sizikov, as a person with the first group of disabilities, was sent under house arrest, the rest were sent to a pre-trial detention center.
- The Islamist party Hizb ut-Tahrir has been recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia. In various regions of Russia, as well as in the Crimea, alleged members of the party are being prosecuted for the activities of a terrorist organization. The accused are sentenced to various terms only on the basis that they held meetings and read religious literature. On the territory of Ukraine, the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir are allowed.
- According to the HRC Memorial, as of March 22, 2022, at least 340 people are being persecuted in connection with involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami. Of these, at least 231 people were convicted, and 176 of them were sentenced to terms of more than ten years in prison. Most of the defendants - 94 people - are from the Crimea and Sevastopol. Tatarstan is in second place: at least 81 people from this region are being persecuted in connection with involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir. In third place is Bashkiria (53 defendants).