Crimean Tatar political prisoners denied challenge of judges
In the Southern District Military Court, Crimean Tatars Abdulmedzhit Seytumerov, Ametkhan Umerov, Eldar Yakubov, Ruslan Asanov, Remzi Nimetulaev and Seidamet Mustafayev challenged the entire panel of judges. However, the court did not grant their request.
“Our clients stated that they were convinced of the accusatory bias of the panel of judges, that this panel of judges does not want to deal with the criminal case, but is only interested in the outcome of the case,” said lawyer Emil Kurbedinov.
At the last hearing, the judge did not allow the lawyers and their clients to ask questions of the secret witness. The defense believes that the panel of judges, without apparent reason, deprived them of the right to participate in the interrogation of the prosecution witness.
In addition, during the court hearing, another secret witness under the pseudonym "Ibragimov Ibragim Ibragimovich" was questioned.
"We always say that these secret witnesses are agents of the state, they are not disclosed only because the public, judges, lawyers, listeners will see how the same people wander from one criminal case to another with the same legend. This will look absurd. Their classification is connected precisely with this, and not with the fact that they fear for their lives and health from political prisoners - peaceful people, authoritative people," Emil Kurbedinov summarized.
The Crimean Tatar defendants have been detained more than once at rallies in support of other arrested compatriots. They were charged under articles on organizing a terrorist organization and participating in it on the basis of membership in the Islamic party "Hizb ut-Tahrir".
Crimean Muslims are regularly charged with involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia. Its alleged members are accused and sentenced to real terms on the basis of holding meetings in apartments and reading religious literature.
