A Russian military appellate court has rejected the appeals of four Crimean Tatars—Nariman Ametov, Ali Mamutov, Vokhid Mustafayev, and Enver Khalilyayev—who were convicted of involvement with the organization ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir.’ The sentences handed down by the Southern District Military Court on May 21, 2026, remain unchanged. According to the TASS news agency, citing court sources, the individuals—part of what is known as the "third Dzhankoy group"—were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 to 15 years.
On the 12th anniversary of Russia's seizure of Crimea, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming its non-recognition of the peninsula as a subject of the Russian Federation.
The statement notes that Turkey considers the situation that has developed following the "illegitimate referendum" to be contrary to international law. The country also stated its intention to continue monitoring the situation in Crimea, particularly the situation of the Crimean Tatars.
"We strongly support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Turkey will continue to monitor the situation on the peninsula and keep this issue on its agenda, paying particular attention to the situation of the Crimean Tatars," Ankara noted.
Previously, Russian human rights activists have repeatedly noted that the mass criminal prosecution of Crimean Tatars is linked to their civic stance and protests against repression in Crimea.