On 27 March 2019 the law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation took measures in the Republic of Crimea aimed at preventing the activities of the international terrorist organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami”, banned in the Russian Federation by the decision of the Supreme Court in 2003. The operation resulted in the detention of 20 leaders and members of the organization.

The members of the cell are suspected of undertaking anti-constitutional activities aimed at establishing the so-called Worldwide Islamic Caliphate, destroying the institutions of secular society and overthrowing the legitimate government by force. To achieve these aims, they used secret meetings for spreading terrorist ideology among the Crimean population and recruiting the residents of Crimea, mainly Crimean Tatars, into their ranks.

Numerous propaganda materials, literature and electronic media used by “Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami” were found and confiscated in the course of the operation. Investigative activities on this case are underway.

The activities of the Russian law enforcement agencies were supported by the Head of Crimea, Mr. Sergey Aksenov, the Vice Mufti of the Republic as well as other Crimean Tatar leaders.

It is important to remind in this regard the position expressed by the European Court of Human Rights in 2012 in the case filed by “Hizb ut-Tahrir” against Germany where the organization is also banned. The Court had stated that the organization called for the violent destruction of the State of Israel and for banishment and killing of its inhabitants. Moreover, a “Hizb ut-Tahrir’s” representative had repeatedly justified suicide attacks in which civilians were killed in Israel and the organization had never distanced itself from this position during the proceedings before the Court.

These steps were taken in full compliance with the Russian legislation and relevant international human rights standards. The detained persons are granted the full range of guarantees in accordance with the Russian Code of Criminal Procedure, including access to counsel and fair trial. In this regard, the Russian Federation further stresses that the operation in question was not discriminatory by its nature, it did not target persons belonging to any nationality. Its only purpose was to curb the activities of an extremist organization, recognized as such and banned not only in Russia, but also in Germany and Turkey, among others.

Russia will continue to undertake all legal measures to prevent all kind of extremist activities on the entirety of its territory, including the Republic of Crimea.