The defense of the Crimean Tatar political prisoners asked to drop the case due to the lack of a crime

In the Southern District Military Court in the case of the "second Dzhankoy group" of the Crimean Tatars, the defense filed a petition for the return of the case or its complete termination due to the absence of a crime. Earlier, the prosecutor requested 41-year-old Osman Abdurazakov, 51-year-old Leman Zekeryaev, 31-year-old Ayder Asanov, 39-year-old Ekrem Krosh, 69-year-old Khalil Mambetov and 55-year-old Refat Seydametov to be sentenced to 17 and a half years each.

Lawyer Lilya Gemedzha noted that since 2015, law enforcement officers have been carrying out operational and investigative measures against Crimean Tatars, including surveillance in the mosque of the village of Novostepnoe, Dzhankoy district. They were detained only seven years later.

"If these people were a threat, why didn't law enforcement take any action for seven years?" Hemeji was indignant.

She also pointed out the weakness of the testimony of anonymous witnesses.

Six Crimean Tatars were detained after searches on charges of participation in the activities of the Hizb ut-Tahrir party, which is considered terrorist in the Russian Federation. The defendants were also charged with an article about the violent seizure of power.

According to human rights activists, party members are being persecuted not for preparing a coup d'etat and terrorism, but for criticizing the authorities of the Russian Federation and repressions in Crimea. In total, "Memorial" recognized as political prisoners more than 280 persons involved in the case of involvement in "Hizb ut-Tahrir".

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