Court in Russia extended arrest of Crimean journalist Bekirov for three months
Russia's Southern District Military Court has extended the term of detention for five members of the second Simferopol group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, including citizen journalist Ramzi Bekirov, for three months (until December 16). This was reported on the website of the Crimean Solidarity.
Human rights activist Riza Izetov, activists Raim Aivazov, Shaban Umerov and Farkhod Bazarov will remain in custody until December 16 this year.
The prosecutor demanded to extend the custody term due to “rebus sic stantibus” or unchangeable circumstances. Earlier, he justified the precautionary measure by the gravity of the crime and the fact that the defendants could flee and influence the trial.
The defense denied his evidence, citing strong social ties among the defendants in Crimea and the lack of opportunity to escape. The lawyers claimed that their clients planned to defend themselves in court and prove their innocence.
The judge upheld the prosecution and extended the pretrial detention for three months.
The activists were arrested in March 2019. 25 Crimean Tatar public activists - Ruslan Suleymanov, Alim Karimov, Rustem Sheikhaliev, Mejit Abdurakhmanov, Yashar Muedinov, Bilal Adilov, Dzhemil Gafarov, Riza Izetov, Izzet Abudulvayev, Asan Yanikov, Shabadit Sebanmerov Akim Bekirov, Farkhod Bazarov, Servet Gaziev, Seyran Murtaza, Erfan Osmanov, Osman Arifmemetov, Remzi Bekirov, Eskender Suleymanov, Enver Ametov, Vladlen Abdulkadyrov and Raim Aivazov – have been accused of being involved in the Islamic political party “Hizb ut-Tahrir” which is recognized terrorist in Russia.
Most of those arrested are members of the Crimean Solidarity human rights group. Umerov, Bekirov, Izetov, Bazarov and Aivazov are charged with organization of a terrorist organization (under Part 1 of Art. 205.5 of the Criminal Code, they face life imprisonment). The rest is charged with activities of a terrorist organization (under part 2 of Art. 205.5 of the Criminal Code, they face up to 20 years in prison). All defendants were also charged with attempt to seize power (under Part 1 of Art. 30 and Art. 278 of the Criminal Code ("", up to 10 years in prison).
As IMI reported, citizen journalist Remzi Bekirov was arrested on March 28, 2019 together with other 23 Crimean Tatar activists. He, like others, was accused for his activity inside the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is considered a terrorist in Russia.
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