Feb 15

WHEN:

Feb 15th 2:00pm

USCIRF Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga testified at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Hearing: Defending Prisoners of Conscience.

View the recording here.

Additional Name(s): Мамедов Эльмар Расул оглы

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Sentence: 12 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: September/23/2019

Date of Sentencing: February/13/2024

Current Status: Not Released

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Online Activity Religious Activity Religious Association

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism

Elmar Mamedov

Extra Bio Info:

Elmar Mamedov is imprisoned for his alleged religious association.

On September 23, 2019, authorities detained Mamedov and others after accusing them of studying Islam and spreading non-traditional religious beliefs as members of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities also accused Mamedov of justifying terrorism over posts they claimed he made criticizing Russia's military actions in Syria.

On March 2, 2021, the Central District Military Court in Samara sentenced Mamedov to 12 years in prison for “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and “public calls for terrorist activities, public justification of terrorism or propaganda of terrorism…committed with the use of mass media or electronic or information and telecommunication networks” (Art. 205.2-2 RCC).

On June 17, 2021, the Military Court of Appeal overturned Mamedov's sentence and ordered a new trial.

On February 13, 2024, the Central District Military Court of Yekaterinburg sentenced Mamedov to 12 years in prison for “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and “public calls for terrorist activities, public justification of terrorism or propaganda of terrorism…committed with the use of mass media or electronic or information and telecommunication networks” (Art. 205.2-2 RCC).

Related Cases: Radik Khairutdinov

Apr 18

WHEN:

Apr 18th 2:30pm

USCIRF Commissioner Father Thomas Reese testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Hearing: Eritrea: Root Causes of the Refugee Crisis.

View the recording here.