16:52, 14 November 2019

EU criticizes verdict in Crimean Muslims' case

Defendants in the case of the "Yalta unit" during the verdict. Photo by Konstantin Volgin for the "Caucasian Knot"

On November 13, the European Union (EU) demanded to cancel the verdict to six convicts in Rostov-on-Don under the case of the "Yalta unit" of an organization banned in Russia. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called to increase pressure on Russia in connection with the verdict.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 12, a court sentenced six figurants in the case of the Yalta unit of the "Hizb ut-Tahrir" terrorist organization, banned in Russia, to long terms of imprisonment. Their defence has treated the verdict as politically motivated and decided to appeal against it.

The defendants were accused of preparing to overthrow the constitutional order, and of participation in a terrorist organization.

The EU has noted that "Hizb ut-Tahrir" is banned in Russia, but not in Ukraine; and the EU treats the Crimea as a part thereof.

The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has declared the convicts to be political prisoners.

Let us remind you that natives of the Caucasus had also been accused of links with the "Hizb ut-Tahrir". Thus, in July 2017, the court found Khiramagomed Magomedov, a native of Dagestan and one of the leaders of the NGO "Union of Fair People", to be a member of this organization and sentenced him to nine years in a colony.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on November 13, 2019 at 09:48 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.