Raim Ayvazov
Raim Ayvazov, born 1994, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 205.5 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Organizing the activities of a terrorist organization); Article 278 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Preparing for violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order); “The case of Raim Aivazov, Farkhod Bazarov, Remzi Bekirov, Riza Uzetov, and Shaban Umerov”. Sentence (March 9, 2022): 17 years' imprisonment in a strict regime colony, one year and six months' restriction of liberty. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since April 18, 2019; place of detention: Penal colony No. 21, Arkhangelsk Oblast. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, May 23, 2019; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, May 13, 2019.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea · Simferopol · Entrepreneurs · Terrorism cases, Cases against Hizb ut-Tahrir
Sentence
17 years
imprisonment in a strict regime colony, one year and six months' restriction of liberty
Upheld March 27, 2023
Charges
- Article 205.5 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Organizing the activities of a terrorist organization
- Article 278 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Preparing for violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order
Full wording of the charges
He was one of the leaders of the Hizb ut-Tahrir unit, disseminated terrorist ideology among the peninsula's inhabitants using conspiracy measures during meetings of the group, recruited Crimean Muslims into its ranks, and participated in preparations for the overthrow of the constitutional order.
Latest event
August 1, 2024 — imprisonment begins
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, May 23, 2019
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 13, 2019
Timeline
· Imprisonment begins
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 17 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Pre-trial Detention Centre №1 (SIZO-1) of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russian Federation for the Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
· Persecution begins
The case of Raim Aivazov, Farkhod Bazarov, Remzi Bekirov, Riza Uzetov, and Shaban Umerov
Criminal case
The case of Raim Aivazov, Farkhod Bazarov, Remzi Bekirov, Riza Uzetov, and Shaban Umerov
Other defendants in the case
- Farkhod Bazarov — Imprisoned, 15 years
- Remzi Bekirov — Imprisoned, 19 years
- Riza Izetov — Imprisoned, 19 years
- Shaban Umerov — Imprisoned, 18 years
Thematic group: Second Simferopol case of "Hizb ut-Tahrir"
Write a letter
Facility: Penal colony No. 21, Arkhangelsk Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
164268, Архангельская обл., Плесецкий р-н, п. Североонежск, 2 микрорайон, д. 10, ФКУ «ИК № 21 УФСИН России по Архангельской области», Айвазов Раим Халилович, 1994 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
He was detained on the night of 17 April 2019 while passing one of the checkpoints in Crimea. On 18 April, the court ruled to take him into custody on charges of participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation. In March 2020, it was reported that Aivazov was also accused of preparing for the overthrow of the constitutional order. According to his lawyer, Aivazov was taken to the forest after his arrest, where he was subjected to a mock execution. Aivazov initially confessed against himself and other defendants in the case and agreed to a special trial, but then refused. In August, it was reported that the charge was reclassified from participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation to organising such activities. On 10 March 2022, he was sentenced to 17 years in a strict regime colony.
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.5 part 1, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.