Crimean Tatar political prisoner has had his 11-year sentence approved

The Supreme Court has rejected the appeal against the 11-year sentence for Crimean Tatar activist and cook Yashar Shikhametov. Lawyer Emil Kurbedinov spoke about his grave physical condition.

“His health is bad. He was brought in on a gurney, he is in the hospital and can barely move. He said that he has huge problems with his spine, liver, kidneys – and a bunch of other ailments. During his detention, Yashar has become disabled. From a moral point of view, he is holding up well, his spirit is not low. He understands perfectly well that this is a test for all of us, not just for him,” the lawyer shared.

Yashar Shikhametov was charged with membership in the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in the Russian Federation but operates legally in most countries around the world. According to the case file, the accused did not have a weapon, did not plan to commit a terrorist act, and did not call on others to commit terrorist acts. The reason for the arrest was a search of his home, which revealed banned literature without fingerprints.

Последние новости
Putin cited Ramzan Kadyrov's large family as a role model
Society
Putin cited Ramzan Kadyrov's large family as a role model
19 December 2025

During the annual "Year in Review" press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to a question about support for young families, noted the tradition of early marriages in the North Caucasus. He said he believed this was "right" and suggested "following their example," citing Ramzan Kadyrov's large family.
Adam Kadyrov blamed preachers of nationalist hatred for the murder of a Tajik boy
Society
Adam Kadyrov blamed preachers of nationalist hatred for the murder of a Tajik boy
19 December 2025

Following the murder of 10-year-old Kobiljon Aliyev, a boy from a Tajik family, at a school near Moscow, Adam Kadyrov, the son and aide of the head of Chechnya, stated that the tragedy was not an isolated incident, but the result of a "systemic problem."
Georgia Accuses the European Union of Undermining the Country's Sovereignty
Politics
Georgia Accuses the European Union of Undermining the Country's Sovereignty
19 December 2025

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili criticized the statement by European Union Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas that the European Union supports the Georgian people, but not the country's government.
The European Parliament condemned the rise in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
Human rights
The European Parliament condemned the rise in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
19 December 2025

The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the arbitrary arrests and sentences handed down to Azerbaijani scholars Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov. The resolution expresses concern over the growing number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, which, according to the European Parliament, has reached 400.