CrimeaSOS: only 8 out of 122 Crimean political prisoners in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” cases served illegal terms of imprisonment
11 / 02 / 2025
On February 11, 2025, three members of the “first Bakhchysarai group of Hizb ut-Tahrir”, including Remzi Mamutov, Zevri Abseitov, and Rustem Abiltarov, were released. As of now, only 8 out of 122 Ukrainian citizens persecuted in the occupied Crimea for alleged involvement in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” organization, have served illegal terms of imprisonment. 110 are in penitentiary institutions, 3 are under house arrest. This was reported by CrimeaSOS analyst Yevhenii Yaroshenko.
“Despite almost 9 years in prison, Abiltarov, Abseitov, and Mamutov received a shorter sentence compared to other defendants in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir cases”. This is partly explained by the fact that they were detained before the adoption of the so-called “Yarova anti-terrorist package”, after which the term of imprisonment for participation in the activities of a terrorist organization (part 2 of article 205.5 of the criminal code of the russian federation) doubled – from 5-10 years to 10-20 years.”, –Yevhenii noted.
Persons involved in the “first Bakhchisarai group of Hizb ut-Tahrir” were detained in May 2016. According to a CrimeaSOS analyst, it was after their arrest that it became clear that the occupiers began to systematically apply anti-terrorist legislation to persecute disloyal groups of Crimean Tatars. Earlier, there had been two waves of searches in Crimea within the framework of similar cases.
“Bakhchysarai area remains in first place in Crimea in terms of the frequency of arbitrary searches and detentions for alleged involvement in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir”. During the years of occupation, 8 waves of searches took place in the Bakhchysarai area, as a result of which 31 people were arrested on charges of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir”, –Yevhenii Yaroshenko said.
Despite the fact that Abiltarov, Abseitov and Mamutov served their sentences closest to Crimea – in the correctional colonies of the Stavropol Territory, located 600 km from the peninsula, they also became victims of a war crime in the form of illegal deportation. After all, Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention provides that “Protected persons accused of offences shall be detained in the occupied country, and if convicted they shall serve their sentences therein.”
Despite the occasional release of Crimean political prisoners from custody, the number of illegally convicted Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territories is growing. The occupiers continue using repressive methods to suppress any resistance, detaining and convicting people without proper evidence.
We would like to remind you that on February 5, 2025, another wave of searches took place in the Dzhankoi and Kirovske areas of the occupied Crimea, as a result of which five Crimean Tatars were detained. The occupation court chose a preventive measure for them in the form of detention until April 4, 2025.