Representatives of the Council of Europe have called on Azerbaijani authorities to release human rights defender Anar Mammadli, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison. Specifically, PACE rapporteur on political prisoners Azadeh Rojhan asserts that his prosecution is political in nature and that fundamental principles of a fair trial were violated during the proceedings.
Yunus Suleimanov, a 40-year-old cook from Bakhchisaray, who was detained on February 12, has been remanded in custody in Simferopol's Pretrial Detention Center No. 2. According to Crimean Solidarity, he is accused of participating in the activities of the Hizb ut-Tahrir party, which is designated a terrorist organization in Russia.
Suleimanov is being held in the same pretrial detention center as another Crimean Tatar, Nariman Seytaliev, who was detained the same day on similar charges. Both men have been remanded in custody until April 11.
Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned in Russia, is a legal organization in many countries. Human rights activists have repeatedly stated that criminal cases brought in Crimea against Crimean Tatars under articles related to this party actually pursue a specific goal: the suppression of peaceful political and religious activity, criticism of the authorities, and protests against repression.