At the court hearing on the case of Crimean Tatar political prisoners, a prosecution witness supported their side
A prosecution witness, former employee of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Crimea (SAMC) Ruslan Bairov, was questioned in the Southern District Military Court. He said that he was not aware of the involvement of the Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir in terrorist acts and violence. He also did not know why the organization was included in the list of terrorist organizations in Russia.
Ruslan Bairov testified in the case of a group of Crimean Tatars, including Abdulmedzhit Seytumerov, Ametkhan Umerov, Eldar Yakubov, Ruslan Asanov, Remzi Nimetulayev and Seidamet Mustafayev. They were charged under articles on organizing a terrorist organization and participating in it based on their membership in the Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir.
The defendants had previously challenged the entire panel of judges, but the court did not grant their request. The defendants were repeatedly detained at rallies in support of other arrested Crimean Tatars.
Crimean Muslims are regularly charged with involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Russia. Its alleged members are accused and sentenced to real terms on the basis of holding meetings in apartments and reading religious literature.
