The EU and Sweden call on Russia to release the convicted participants in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case
EU Ambassador to Ukraine Matti Maasikas and Swedish Ambassador to Ukraine Tobias Tyberg have condemned the Russian court's verdict against Enver and Riza Omerov, and Ayder Dzhapparov, participants in the Belogorsk Hizb ut-Tahrir case. They called on Russia to release Crimean Tatars from prison.
They announced this on Twitter.
The EU ambassador stated that he was appalled by the sentence handed down to three Crimean Tatars.
"I am appalled by the latest sentencing of three Crimean Tatars for a total of 48years and stand in solidarity with Aider Dzapparov, Enver and Riza Omerov. All illegally imprisoned and detained Ukrainians must be released without delay", - Maasikas wrote.
The Swedish ambassador also considers the sentence unacceptable.
"Sentencing of three Crimean Tatars to a total of 48 years' imprisonment in Russia is unacceptable. All Ukrainians illegally detained and imprisoned by Russia must be released", - Tyberg wrote.
What is known
- Ms Melinda Simmons, the British Ambassador to Ukraine, is also appalled by the Russian court's decision.
- Crimean Tatars were sentenced to 13 to 18 years in a maximum-security prison.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has strongly protested against this decision.
