The FSB, Russia’s federal security service, conducted searches in houses of several Crimean Tatar activists. Zair Smedlyayev, the Head of Qurultay’s Central Election Committee, said this on air with 112 Ukraine TV channel.
‘The searches are over. The FSB agents took in Emil Dzhemadenov, Aider Saledinov, Uzeir and Timur Abdullayev and Rustem Ismailov. They all were charged with organization and membership in a terrorist organization, which is banned in Russia. Timur Abdullayev was charged as the ‘organizer’ of the group, the rest came as accomplices’, Smedlyayev said.
The FSB, Russia’s federal security service, conducted searches in houses of several Crimean Tatar activists. Zair Smedlyayev, the Head of Qurultay’s Central Election Committee, said this on air with 112 Ukraine TV channel.
‘The searches are over. The FSB agents took in Emil Dzhemadenov, Aider Saledinov, Uzeir and Timur Abdullayev and Rustem Ismailov. They all were charged with organization and membership in a terrorist organization, which is banned in Russia. Timur Abdullayev was charged as the ‘organizer’ of the group, the rest came as accomplices’, Smedlyayev said.
Since the illegal annexation of Crimea in March 2014, Russia has been interfering with domestic affairs of national minorities, specifically Crimean Tatars. There were media reports about missing and deceased Crimean Tatars. Many, including the members of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people fled the peninsula, choosing to live in the mainland Ukraine rather than under the Russian rule – non-recognized by most of the civilized countries. Earlier this year, Russia officially banned the Mejlis of Crimean Tatars on its entire territory, including Crimea.
The issue of persecution of Crimean Tatars has since been repeatedly raised by the Ukrainian government and the Crimean Tatars themselves regularly on the international level.
