The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry is protesting against Russia’s Southern District Military Court sentence to six Crimean residents in the criminal case over their membership in the Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist organization.
“The fact that the court disregarded the lack of evidence and granted the prosecutor’s motion, sentencing M. Aliyev to 19 years’ imprisonment, I. Bekirov to 18 years, E.-U. Kuku and V. Siruk to 12 years, R. Alimov to eight years, and A. Jepparov to seven years in jail, indicates the political bias of the sentence,” the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Kyiv urged the international community to condemn the court judgment and “increase pressure on Russia in efforts to force it end human rights violations in Crimea.”
On Nov. 12, the Southern District Military Court in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don sentenced six Crimean natives to various prison terms “for involvement in the activity of the Yalta cell of the Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist organization and the attempt at seizing power in the country.”
Muslim Aliyev is sentenced to 19 years’ imprisonment, Inver Bekirov got 18 years, Emir-Usein Kuku 12 years, Vadim Siruk – 12 years, Arsen Jepparov – seven years, and Refat Alimov – eight years. They will serve their sentences in a high-security penal colony.
