Four Crimean Tatar activists have been handed lengthy prison sentences by a court in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, for their affiliation with the prohibited Islamic political group, Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Dzhebbar Bekirov, one of the convicted individuals, received a 17-year prison term for his association with the organization and alleged involvement in plotting a seizure of power. The remaining three activists, namely Zaur Abdullayev, Rustem Murasov, and Rustem Tairov, were each sentenced to 12 years on similar charges.
Notably, Hizb ut-Tahrir is classified as a terrorist organization and has been banned in Russia since 2003, while it remains legal in Ukraine – reports The Crimean Solidarity group on May 31.