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.
The Southern District Military Court sentenced Ibragim Nagoyev, a resident of Adygea, to 11 years in prison for involvement in the "Council of United Circassia." Russian law enforcement agencies consider the organization to be part of the banned "Anti-Russian Separatist Movement."
According to the prosecution, Ibragim Nagoyev administered the "Council of United Circassia" Telegram channel from January to October of last year. He is also accused of calling for participation in an unauthorized memorial event in Maykop, marking the 161st anniversary of the end of the Caucasian War, and of directly participating in it on May 21, 2025. However, there is no public information about such an event.
In the spring of 2024, the Russian Ministry of Justice banned the "Anti-Russian Separatist Movement" and 55 associated organizations.
As a reminder, in January 2025, Ukraine officially recognized the Circassian genocide committed by the Russian Empire during the Caucasian War (1763-1864). The Verkhovna Rada expressed solidarity with the Circassian people, affirming their right to repatriation and self-determination. Georgia had previously also recognized the Circassian genocide.