At 4 a.m. on Feb. 17, Russian security forces raided homes of Crimean Muslims on the occupied peninsula, arresting seven men for their alleged involvement with a terrorist group.
It was reported by Crimean Solidarity, a Crimea-based activist group that helps victims of political repressions.
Amongst the detainees are six Crimean Tatars who hold Ukrainian passports, and one man from Uzbekistan, Mahamadaminov Abdulboriy, who is a permanent resident of Russia. He was let go, while others are expecting court hearings. If charged, each can face up to 20 years in prison.
Human rights activists say the arrests are a part of widespread persecution of Muslims on the peninsula. Since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, Russian authorities persecuted over 150 Crimean Tatars because of their religion and pro-Ukrainian sentiments.
Read also: Crimean Tatar recalls harassment, torture in Russia-annexed Crimea
The Office of the President of Ukraine in Crimea believes the arrests were “aimed at persecuting citizens solely for their political position or the religion they profess.”
“Russia is once again committing a war crime, and the real goal of the occupier is to destroy any manifestations of resistance and solidarity in Crimea.”
All the arrested Crimean Tatars are being accused of involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir – an Islamic political party and organization, which functions legally in Ukraine and most countries of Europe, but is deemed illegal in Russia.
“They planted three Hizb ut-Tabriz books (for five of the detainees),” lawyer Lilia Gemedzhy told the Kyiv Post. “The searches were conducted with violations… they used lanterns to prevent people from filming, which suggests that they tried to avoid publicity.”
According to Crimean Solidarity, all men practiced Islam and actively supported Crimean Tatar political prisoners and their families.
One of the arrested men, Azamat Eyupov, took part in a demonstration on the Red Square in Moscow back in 2019 when Crimean Tatars protested against Russia’s repressions.
Another one, Lenur Saidametov, sent parcels to the Crimean Tatar political prisoners in jail.
Oleg Fedorov, whose mother is a Crimean Tatar, attended court hearings, joined information campaigns and flash mobs in support of Crimean political prisoners, and financially helped families of the imprisoned.
Yashar Shyhametov was a witness in the case of Enver Seitosmanov, an activist who was detained in 2018 for his alleged connection to Hizb ut-Tahrir. Shyhametov also drove women to the meetings of the Crimean Solidarity activist group.
Timur Albakov was present at many court hearings and house raids.
Ernest Ibragimov is an activist of the Crimean Solidarity network and their project Crimean Childhood, which helps children of political prisoners.
“Ibragimov’s two daughters cried and ran after the police car when their father was taken,” Mumine Saliyeva, who was present during one of the raids, told the Kyiv Post.
She is an activist and a coordinator of the Crimean Childhood project.
“There was a sea of tears today,” Saliyeva said. “Fedorov’s mother was trembling like a thin reed… She kept whispering to herself that she knew this day will come eventually.”
“Russia is turning Crimea into a strong military base, and with Crimea, it plans to affect geopolitical processes in the region,” Chairman of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis Refat Chubarov told the Kyiv Post.
“Russia tries to change the demographics and the ethnic makeup of the peninsula so that those who are not loyal to the occupants flee Crimea. These oppressions are the main instrument to force people out.”
