Russian court sentences four Crimean Muslims to 7 and 5 years of imprisonment

On September 7, the North Caucasus District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don announced the verdict in the case of Crimean Muslims accused of having links with the organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir,” recognized a terrorist organization in Russia. This was reported by “Crimea. Realities.”

According to the court ruling, a resident of Sevastopol Ruslan Zeytullayev, who was called by Russian authorities an "organizer of a cell of Hizb ut-Tahrir,” was sentenced to seven years in colony. Another three Crimean Muslims: Ferat Sayfullayev, Rustem Vayitov and Nuri Prymov were sentenced to a five year imprisonment at a general penal colony.

As reported, Ruslan Zeytullayev, Rustem Vayitova, Nuri Prymov, Ferat Sayfullayev were arrested in winter 2015 in Sevastopol on charges of involvement in the Islamic organization “Hizb-ut-Tahrir,” which is banned in Russia since 2003 as a terrorist organization.

During judicial debate, the prosecutor sought 17 years of imprisonment in general penal colony for Ruslan Zeytullayev as “organizer,” seven years of imprisonment in general penal colony for Rustem Vayitov and Nuri Prymov, eight years years of imprisonment in general penal colony for Ferat Saifullayev.

Prymov and Vayitov said they were not involved in the organization, which is considered terrorist in Russia. Zeytullayev refused to provide testimony. He explained his refusal by the fact that the court and the investigation were biased. Sayfullayev also told the court that he had no relation to “Hizb ut-Tahrir.”

Mejlis and human rights activists earlier noted the political nature of the persecution of the Crimean Muslims. It was reported by Zaxid.net.