The Crimean Tatar activist was sentenced to 18 years in prison

The Southern District Military Court of Russia sentenced Crimean Tatar activist Ernes Seytosmanov to 18 years in a penal colony in the case of involvement in the Hizb ut-Tahrir movement, reports the public association “Krymskaya Solidarnost”. He was found guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization and preparing for a violent seizure of power. The defense intends to appeal the verdict.

Seitosmanov was arrested after searches in February 2022. In addition to him, three more people were detained.

• “Hizb ut-Tahrir” is an international religious movement of the Islamist variety. It is legal in many countries of the world, but since 2003 it has been banned in Russia, where it is recognized as a terrorist organization.
• After the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Russian authorities began mass persecution of alleged followers of the movement, mainly Crimean Tatars, on the peninsula. Criminal cases against them under articles on terrorism are often initiated only on the basis of religious literature found during searches. At the moment, more than three hundred people are under arrest and in long-term imprisonment. International human rights organizations recognize them as political prisoners. The Crimean Tatars themselves believe that they are being persecuted solely for disagreeing with the annexation of the peninsula.