The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don announced the sentence of two citizens of Ukraine. Crimean Tatars Zekiryu Muratov and Vadim Bektemirov were sentenced to 11 years in prison each.

This is reported by the ombudsman Lyudmila Denisova on her Telegram channel.

In particular, the court decided to sentence:

Zekirya Muratov, a 64-year-old Crimean Tatar, to 11 and a half years in prison. He has a disability of the third group, a number of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, as well as chronic hypertension and angina.

Vadim Bektemirov was sentenced to 11 years in a strict regime penal colony.

According to the court verdict, both will be in prison for the first three years. And after serving their illegal sentence, they will be restricted in freedom of movement and free choice of place. Denisova has already called them political prisoners of the Kremlin.

The Crimean Tatars are accused under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code - participation in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is recognized as terrorist in Russia.

"I condemn the illegal trials of Crimean Tatars and other illegally detained citizens of Ukraine. By its actions, the Russian occupant country violates international law, the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," Denisova said.

It is noteworthy that during the announcement of sentences to Vadim Bektemirov and Zekorie Muratov near the so-called "Crimean garrison military court" three civil journalists were detained: Amar Abdulgaziev, Rustem Useinov and Ali Suleymanov.

"This is a direct obstruction of the implementation of their professional activities," Denisova wrote.

Recall, in occupied Crimea on February 9, Russian security forces conducted searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars. The Prosecutor's Office of Crimea opened criminal proceedings.