HRC "Memorial"* declares Georgy Guev, resident of North Ossetia, to be political prisoner

Georgy Guev, a resident of North Ossetia, has been sentenced to six years in prison on charges of financing terrorism in connection with his non-violent exercising of his right to the freedom of religion; the sentence was passed in violation of his right to a fair trial. This was stated by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"*.

The HRC "Memorial"* believes that Guev's guilt was not proved at the trial. "The court regarded the accusations of Guev's adherence to 'aggressive forms of Islam' untenable, but the verdict indicates that he had deliberately financed Islamic terrorists, although fails to specify the purpose," the HRC's statement asserts.

The HRC insists that the above 7000 roubles were transferred by Guev to the "Mukhadjirun" Fund, in the announcement of which it was reported about collection of donations for the construction of wells in African countries. At the same time, the Fund's accountant has stated that part of the funds was sent to the IS, and "information about the financing of the jihad" was posted in the Fund's chats, in which Guev was a member. But he denies that he was in the chats; and investigators failed to prove that he was.

As for the remaining 201 roubles, Guev transferred them to a bank card, which, according to investigators, was used for transfers to IS militants. Elnara Sultanmuradova, who had collected money to this card, was sentenced to eight years in prison for helping to finance terrorism. In his turn, Georgy Guev claims that he had responded to a call to help a person in need.