We are presenting a summary of the most complete list of people prosecuted for their involvement in the Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami organization (hereinafter referred to as HT) in Russia and the annexed Crimea. Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami organization was recognized in Russia as a terrorist organization and banned on this basis.

The charges relate exclusively to the participation of the defendants in the international religious organization Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami, designated a terrorist organization by the Russian Supreme Court in 2003. But neither the decision of the Supreme Court, nor the materials of criminal cases in Russia and other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States indicate concrete facts that the organization engages in terrorism or any other kind of violent activities. Nor is there any information to show the involvement of the organization in the activities of jihadist groups in Europe or the Middle East.

Memorial Human Rights Center has repeatedly stated that it does not agree with the decision of the Supreme Court to designate Hizb ut-Tahrir as a terrorist organisation and considers the decision to be unjustified.

As of now, the list contains 311 names of people prosecuted in connection with the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami.

204 people were convicted, 53 of them received sentences of 10 to 15 years, 60 of them received sentences of 15 years or more.

Over 24 defendants are currently on trial.

65 people are under investigation. Information regarding some of these may be outdated. Also, we do not know some names of persons who are under investigation.

19 people were released after serving the appointed term of imprisonment, 1 person was released from serving his sentence for health reasons, and from 1 person charges were dropped.

Memorial Human Right Center recognized 168 persons involved in Hizb ut-Tahrir cases as political prisoners. The recognition as political prisoners of other defendants will be considered upon receiving of procedural documents on their cases.

Tatarstan
We are currently aware of 71 residents of Tatarstan persecuted due to their activities connected to Hizb ut-Tahrir (67 of them under terrorist articles).  38 people are in pre-trial detention centers: 15 people are under investigation, 15 cases are being examined by court, 8 people were convicted. 7 persons involved in Hizb ut-Tahrir cases were arrested in absentia and put on the wanted list. Among of those who we know, 34 people were sentenced, and 21 of them received sentences of 15 years of prison and more.

Bashkortostan
We’re aware of 66 people detained in Bashkortostan in connection with the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir. 62 of them were sentenced to prison terms: 10 of them for terms of 20 years or more, eight people – for terms from 15 to 20 years, 22 people – for terms from 10 to 15 years. Four persons involved in Hizb ut-Tahrir cases were arrested in absentia and put on the wanted list.

Moscow
We are aware of 32 persons detained in Moscow for their involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir. There are probably more people sentenced. Usually, these are immigrants from Central Asia, mainly from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. At least 30 people were sentenced to prison terms: nine people – for sentences of 15 years, 13 people – for sentences from 10 to 15 years. We have not received the details of two court cases yet.

St. Petersburg
There are 19 known persons deprived of their liberty in connection with their involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir in St. Petersburg. All of them were sentenced to different prison terms: three – for terms of over 15 years, 4 – for terms from 10 to 15 years.

Chelyabinsk region
We know the names of 20 people prosecuted in the Chelyabinsk region for participation in Hizb ut-Tahrir. 19 people were convicted, of which three people received 15 years in prison and more. At least one person is under investigation.

Dagestan
We know the names of 11 people convicted in connection with the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir in Dagestan. There is no information about people under investigation in Dagestan.

Tyumen region
Ten Muslims were detained in Tyumen on November 18, 2019. On November 21, 2019 they were arrested under Part 2 of the Article 205.5 (‘Participation in the activities of an organization designated as
terrorist under Russian law’) of the Russian Criminal Code.

Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area
In addition to participating in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, most of the defendants are charged with inciting hatred or enmity – this was due to the anti-American demonstration after a release of a film “Innocence of Muslims” and a publication of a video of this demonstration on VKontakte.

Nizhny Novgorod Region
Four Tajik citizens were detained and sentenced for terms from 8 to 10 years.

Samara Region
Two people were sentenced to 4 years and 4 months and to 6 years in prison. Four Muslims were detained on September 23, 2019 in Tolyatti and charged under the Art. 205.5 of the Criminal Code.

Crimea and Sevastopol
In cases of involvement in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, the Russian authorities imprisoned 62 residents of annexed Crimea and two Kyrgyz citizens. 21 people were convicted, six of them – for periods of 15 years in prison, five – for periods of 10 to 15 years in prison. Nine people are on trial, 34 people are under investigation.