The Moscow Garrison Military Court has arrested Visam Ali Bardvil, a member of the Ulema Council of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia and imam of the South Butovo mosque. He was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code (participation in the activities of a terrorist organization).
In the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don, the prosecutor asked to appoint Crimean Tatar activist Ansar Osmanov 18 years in a strict regime colony. Like hundreds of other residents of Crimea, he is accused of participating in the Islamic organization «Hizb ut-Tahrir». It is prohibited in Russia, but it operates without restriction in many countries of the world and Europe.
Before his arrest, Ansar Osmanov was a member of the public movement «Crimean Solidarity» and an active visitor to the courts on politically motivated cases of arrested Crimean Tatar Muslims. Despite the accusation of terrorism, there is no mention in the criminal case against him of possession of weapons or actual plans to commit terrorist acts. Osmanov himself denies his guilt and involvement in terrorist activities, except for his actions are illegal.