Crimean Tatar activist sentenced to 20 years in prison
The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don announced the conviction of Ansar Osmanov, an activist of Crimean Solidarity, and sentenced him to 20 years in prison in a strict regime colony. Before his arrest, the political prisoner worked as a wood carver. Now five children are growing up in his family without a father.
According to lawyer Emil Kurbedinov, the examination of the prosecution does not contain information and signs of Osmanov committing any actions or appeals that can be qualified as criminal and punishable. The security forces accused the Crimean Tatar of participating in the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned in Russia but operating freely in Ukraine and other countries of the world.
"20 years! It will be almost 70 years Ansar will be when he comes out. Very often I read reports in the Crimea and see how brutal murders are given 7-8 years, and after 3-4 years the prisoners are released on parole. And for this category of cases - such deadlines! For honor, for the fact that a person was not afraid to speak the truth, all the more so he came, also with single pickets, stood here with a poster: "Crimean Tatars are not terrorists, Muslims are not terrorists." This is the revenge of the special services for such vigorous activity, ”the defender commented on the verdict.
