Three defendants in "Hizb ut-Tahrir case" released after 9 years in Russian colony. PHOTO

After 9 years of imprisonment in a Russian colony, three political prisoners in the case of the "first Bakhchisarai group of 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' - Crimean Tatars Ramsey Memetov, Zevri Abseitov and Rustem Abiltarov - were released.

This was reported by the human rights association "Crimean Solidarity", Censor.NET informs.

On 12 May 2016, four Crimean Tatars were arrested in occupied Bakhchisarai after searches. The cook Ramsey Memetov, entrepreneur Enver Mamutov, dentist Zevri Abseitov and carpenter Rustem Abiltarov were charged under Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.

On 24 December 2018, the Southern District Military Court "sentenced" Ramsey Memetov, Rustem Abiltarov and Zevri Abseitov to 9 years in prison. Enver Mamutov was sentenced to 17 years in prison. On 11 July 2019, the Supreme Court of Russia commuted the sentence, reducing the term of all four by three months.

Political prisoner Ramsey Memetov was released from a Russian colony, having served his full 9-year sentence.