Crimean Tatar political prisoner released from punishment cell after 40 days

In a maximum security colony in the city of Salavat in the Republic of Bashkortostan, political prisoner Ruslan Zeitullaev was released from a punishment cell. He spent 40 days in a punishment cell.

In January 2015, security forces conducted a search in the Zeitullayevs' house. On the same day, the head of the family was arrested. In 2016, Ruslan was sentenced to 7 years in prison. In 2017, the court’s decision was revised, sentencing him to 15 years in a maximum security colony.

The Crimean Tatar is charged with membership in the Islamic organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has been banned in Russia since 2003. On the territory of Ukraine and most countries of the world it operates freely, its members are not persecuted.

Last year, Zeitullayev’s wife visited her in the colony. He also saw his two daughters for the first time in eight years of imprisonment.

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