Russia's Supreme Court rejected appeals filed by four Crimean Tatars against the lengthy prison terms they were handed on extremism charges they have rejected, lawyer Emil Kurbedinov said on September 20. Seitumer Seitumerov, Osman Seitumerov, Amet Suleimanov, and Rustem Seitmemetov -- all residents of Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea region -- were sentenced to 17, 14, 12, and 13 years in prison respectively in October 2021 for being members of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an Islamic group that is banned in Russia and listed as an extremist organization but is allowed in Ukraine. The Memorial rights group has declared the four men political prisoners. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities, click here.
Russia Rejects Crimean Tatars' Appeals Against Sentences
Rustem Seitmemetov (left to right), Seitumer Seitumerov, and Osman Seitumerov appear in court. (file photo)