Rustem Vaitov
Rustem Vaitov, born 1986, Occupied territory of Sevastopol. Charges: Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization); “Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case”. Sentence (September 6, 2016): 5 years of imprisonment in a general regime colony. Status: at large. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, July 28, 2016; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion, July 17, 2016.
In brief
Occupied territory of Sevastopol · village of Orlinoye · Manual workers · Terrorism cases, Cases against Hizb ut-Tahrir
Sentence
5 years
of imprisonment in a general regime colony
Upheld December 26, 2016
Charges
- Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization
Full wording of the charges
participated in the activities of a terrorist organisation: joined Zeitullayev's cell no later than June 2014
Latest event
January 22, 2020 — imprisonment ends
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, July 28, 2016
- Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, July 17, 2016
Timeline
· Imprisonment ends
· Appeal ruling
upheld
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 5 years
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as persecuted for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Persecution begins
Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
Criminal case
Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case
Other defendants in the case
- Nuri (Yuri) Primov — At large, 5 years
- Ferat Sayfullaev — At large, 5 years
Thematic group: Sevastopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case
Details and sources
Full summary
Vaitov, together with two other Muslims, was arrested by FSB officers in late January 2015 on suspicion of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir; a criminal case was opened against them under Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code (organisation of activities of a terrorist organisation and participation in it); on 7 September 2016, he was sentenced to 5 years in a general regime colony.
In November 2019, it became known that Vaitov was placed in a reinforced regime barrack in the colony. His wife stated that Vaitov was credited with the neighbor's violation.
In December 2018, Vaitov was denied parole.
On 22 January 2020, he was released. He was assigned administrative supervision for eight years.
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.