British ambassador appalled at sentencing Bilohirsk group defendants

British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons is appalled at sentencing the Bilohirsk group defendants in Hizb ut-Tahrir case and Russia's continued persecution of Crimean Tatars.

“Appalled at sentencing of Enver Omerov, Riza Omerov and Ayder Dzhapparov. Russia’s continued persecution of Crimean Tatars and those who oppose its illegal annexation of Crimea is unacceptable. The UK calls on Russia to release all Ukrainian political prisoners immediately #crimeaisukraine,” the Ambassador posted on Twitter on January 12.

As reported, the Southern Military District Court in Rostov-on-Don (Russia) ruled on January 12 to sentence Enver Omerov to 18 years, Riza Omerov – 13 years, Ayder Dzhapparov – to 16 years in a maximum security penal colony.

All three men are residents of Bilohirsk district of Crimea and were detained on June 10, 2019. They were charged with "conducting terrorist activities" and participating in the activities of the Islamic organization Hizb ut-Tahrir.

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