USCIRF Vice Chair Kristina Arriaga testified at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Hearing: Defending Prisoners of Conscience.
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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 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
Photo attributed to Memorial
"Мамедов Эльмар Расул оглы" Memorial
"Тольяттинское дело Мамедова и Хайрутдинова о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial
USCIRF Commissioner Father Thomas Reese testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Hearing: Eritrea: Root Causes of the Refugee Crisis.
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