The military court in Vlasikha upheld the sentence against the publisher of Muslim literature, the head of the largest Islamic book publishing house in Russia “Umma” Aslambek Ezhaev. In February he was sentenced to 17 years in prison.

According to investigators, Ezhaev financed terrorists for many years, using funds from his publishing activities. In total, he allegedly transferred 33 million rubles.

According to lawyers Murad Musayev and Eva Chanieva, a serious violation of the investigation was the use of testimony from secret witnesses who were unable to indicate the source of their knowledge. In the case materials, there are no protocols of interrogation of any of the 29 persons allegedly sponsoring terrorism through Aslambek Ezhaev.

The prosecution claims that 33 million rubles were withdrawn from Ezhaev’s accounts. However, bank card statements included in the case file show an amount of only 4 million for the entire incriminated period, the lawyers noted.