A group of Crimean Tatar political prisoners have had their arrest extended for three months
The Kiev District Court of Simferopol has extended the detention of Abibulla Smedlyaev, Bakhtiyar Ablaev, Rustem Mustafaev, Mirzali Tazhibaev and Emir Kurtnezirov until July 4. The defense objected to this measure of restraint, claiming that the investigation had no real grounds. However, the court did not take into account the lawyers' arguments.
The Crimean Tatars were detained in early February. Their relatives claim that banned books were planted on the men during the searches. The security forces also did not draw up search reports.
All of the defendants have been charged with involvement in the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Russia. It is recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia, but it legally operates in Ukraine, Europe and the world.
Since January 2015, in Crimea, which came under Russian control, they have begun to initiate criminal cases on a massive scale for participation in Hizb ut-Tahrir. According to human rights activists, Crimean Tatars are being persecuted not for preparing a coup d'etat and terrorism, but for criticizing the Russian authorities.
