The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine condemned the decision of the Crimean court to extend the detention period for Crimean Tatar activist Nariman Memedeminov. Under this decision, the detainee will remain behind the bars until May 16. The Ukrainian government demands his release.

'We strongly condemn the systematic persecution of Crimean Tatar activists. Again we demand the release of journalist Memedeminov', Maryana Betsa, the ministry spokeswoman reported that on Wednesday.

Memedeminov was detained on March 22. The officers of the occupation law enforcement bodies held the search at the house of Memedeminov in Kholmovka village. On March 23, Kyiv district court of Simferopol, controlled by the Kremlin, arrested Memedeminov for two months.