3 activists in occupied Crimea are remanded in custody by Russian court on Ukraine's Independence Day

Three Crimean Tatars, Ruslan Asanov, Ametkhan Umerov and Remzi Nimetulayev, were remanded in custody in a pre-trial detention centre for two months by the Russian-controlled Kyiv court in Bakhchysarai, Crimea, on the evening of 24 August. Their homes had been searched by the Russian secret services.  Source: a message from the lawyers of the detained Crimean Solidarity activists

Details: According to their lawyers, Nimetulayev and Asanov were charged with "organising the activities of a terrorist organisation" and Ametkhan Umerov with "participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation". The activists pleaded not guilty. On 25 August, the Russian court in Crimea was also due to determine the pre-trial restriction for three more activists who had been detained the day before: Seydamet Mustafayev, Eldar Yakubov and Abdulmedzhit Seitumerov.

Quote from lawyer Edem Semedlyaev: "It is clear from the [case] materials that the FSB officers provided to the court that [the security forces] have been bugging the Crimean Tatars' households for several years and recorded some alleged meetings there.

The testimony of two concealed witnesses who allege that they attended some conspiratorial meetings was used [to initiate the case]." Background:

• At four in the morning on 24 August, Russian security services broke into the homes of six Crimean Tatars to carry out searches. All six are social activists and parents of several children.
• The activists have been repeatedly detained at rallies in support of other Crimean Tatars who have been convicted in politically motivated cases.
• Refat Chubarov, the head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, said these actions by the invaders were revenge on the Crimean Tatars for the third summit of the Crimean Platform, which was held in Kyiv on 23 August, as well as fear of the imminent liberation of Crimea.
• On 22 August, Verkhovna Rada Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets said Russia has provided no information about the state of health of Bohdan Ziza, a Crimean political prisoner and artist who has been on hunger strike for 17 days.

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