Chechnya is among the Russian regions introducing a drone-piloting standard under the GTO physical fitness programme as part of the federal project Na Vysote! (“At Altitude!”). According to the Vedomosti newspaper, the initiative aims to “popularise” drone piloting among young people and train specialists for the unmanned aircraft industry. Russian officials have also openly acknowledged that the skills acquired could be used in the war against Ukraine.
Over the past two months, political prisoner Memet Belyalov has been repeatedly sent to the punishment cell of colony No. 9 in the Novgorod region. The last time the official reason for transferring a Crimean Tatar to a ShIZO was the lack of a shirt. When Memet Belyalov was taking a bath, an observer entered the cell, and he did not have time to put on a long-sleeved shirt. The employee of the colony regarded this as a violation.
The Southern District Military Court in September 2020 sentenced Belyalov to 18 years in prison. He was found guilty of participating in the Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation. According to human rights activists, members of the organization are being persecuted not for preparing a coup d'état and terrorism, but for public actions against political repressions in Crimea and criticism of the Russian authorities.