Russian law enforecement in Crimea search mosque, house of imam

Russian security forces conducted a search on April 15 in a mosque in the village of Shturmove in the city of Sevastopol. After "investigative measures” they went to the house of the imam of the mosque, Rustem Abilev. Russian mass media are working on site. This is reported by Crimean Solidarity, according to KTRC.

“It became known that today in the village of Shturmove (a village in the Balaklava Municipal District in the Balaklava district of Sevastopol), on 48 Akyar street, investigatory measures are taking place in Abileva Rustem's house. Investigative measures were initially carried out in a mosque whose imam is Abilev. Then the security officials moved to the house of Rustem Abilev,” it was said in a message.

It is also reported that the TV channel Russia 1, the information channel of Sevastopol ICS-TV and other Russian mass media were present during these events.

Later, it became known that Rustem Abilev works as a dentist and conducts dental practice in his own clinic.

Following the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, such searches became a regular practice on the peninsula. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, in 2018, Russian security forces conducted 92 searches in the territory of the occupied Crimea, 75 of which were in the homes of representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people.