The Southern Area Military Court in Rostov-na-Donu represented by presiding judge Aleksey Magomadov, sentenced cook Yashar Shykhametov to 11 years in custody on charges of terrorism. He will serve the first 4 years in prison, the remaining term in the maximum security regime penal colony.
According to Crimean Solidarity, before his arrest Yashar Shykhametov had been working as a cook in the cafe.
Earlier, prosecutor Sergey Aydinov requested the same term for Yashar Shykhametov – 11 years in custody with serving the first 4 years in prison. The prosecutor noted that the term was “less than expected” due to mitigating circumstances – the presence of a dependent minor child.
Yashar has been suffering health problems: he has problems with his heart, stomach, back and liver backed with chronic hypertension. The day before, Yashar Shykhametov also complained of feeling unwell. Mr.Shykhametov insisted on making a break in response to the court’s proposal to speak in the debate. The court denied the defense’s petition to make a break.
Judge Aleksey Magomadov regarded Shykhametov’s inability to take part in the debate as a voluntary refusal to testify, though the defendant had prepared 21 pages for the hearing. He also refused lawyer Aleksey Ladin to postpone the hearing. Yashar Shykhametov was indignant that he was not allowed to take part in the debate and make the last statement.
On February 17, 2021, mass searches were held in several districts of Crimea at one and the same time resulting into detention of six Muslims: Azamat Eyupov, Yashar Shykhametov, Lenur Seydametov, Timur Yalkabov, Ernest Ibragimov and Oleg Fedorov.
All detainees are charged with membership in the ‘Hizb ut-Tahrir’ Islamic political party.
