U.S. condemns Russia's sentencing of 4 Crimean Tatars, detention of 5 more Crimean Tatar activists

"We condemn Russia's sentencing of 4 Crimean Tatars to 12-18 years in prison on fabricated "extremism" charges and the detention of 5 more Crimean Tatar activists," the embassy posted on Twitter.

U.S. diplomats urged Russia to cease its religious persecutions and free all Ukrainian political prisoners.

As Ukrinform reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine strongly protested against the illegal decision of the Southern Military District Court of the Russian Federation of August 16 to convict four Ukrainian citizens Ruslan Nagaev, Lenur Khalilov, Ruslan Mesutov, and Eldar Kantimirov in the case of the Hizb ut-Tahrir Alushta group.

On August 17, new mass raids on the houses of Crimean Tatar Muslims took place in the temporarily occupied Crimea. After the searches, Rustem Murasov, Rustem Tayirov, Dzhabbar Bekirov, Zaur Abdullayev, and imam Rayif Fevziyev were detained.

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