The Kiev District Court in Simferopol extended until July 22 the term of detention in a pre-trial detention center for Crimean activists Ruslan Asanov, Ametkhan Umerov, Remzi Nimetulaev, Seydamet Mustafayev, Eldar Yakubov and Abdulmedzhit Seitumerov. The investigation argued that it was impossible to mitigate the preventive measure under the terrorist article under which the Crimean Tatars are being persecuted. They are in pre-trial detention center No. 2 in Simferopol, you can write letters to them.

Earlier, lawyer Emil Kurbedinov stated that the decision to leave the defendants in the pre-trial detention center was made under pressure from the special services.

“The real reason for keeping political prisoners in such strict conditions is to put pressure on them. Revenge for the fact that they refused to incriminate themselves and others and admit non-existent guilt,” Kurbedinov said.

Crimean Tatars were arrested at the end of August 2023. Previously, they had been detained more than once at rallies in support of other arrested compatriots. They are accused of participating in the Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned in the Russian Federation. In Ukraine and other countries of the world, the party operates legally, and its members are not persecuted.