Ruslan Zeitullaev resumes his hunger strike in Rostov SIZO

Ruslan Zeitullaev, recognized as an organizer of the Crimean unit of the terrorist organization "Hizb ut-Tahrir", banned in Russia, has began his new hunger strike in protest against the verdict and persecution of activists. This was reported by advocate Emil Kurbedinov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on April 26, the North-Caucasian District Military Court sentenced Ruslan Zeitullaev to 12 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony. Prior to pronouncement of the verdict, Ruslan Zeitullaev continued his hunger strike for 23 days and stopped it at a request voiced by his relatives and leaders of the Crimean Tatar people.

On May 15, after visiting his client at the Rostov SIZO (pre-trial prison), Emil Kurbedinov, an advocate of Ruslan Zeitullaev, reported on his Facebook page on hunger strike of his client.

"Starting from today, Ruslan Zeitullaev began another indefinite hunger strike to protest against the verdict and the continuing repression of Crimean Tatars, Muslims, and public activists," noted the Ruslan Zeitullaev's advocate.

The advocate has also reported that officials from the Consulate General of Ukraine still cannot visit Ruslan Zeitullaev. "Under various far-fetched pretexts, representatives of the Consulate are not allowed to visit Ruslan. Ruslan initiates the renunciation of Russian citizenship," emphasized Emil Kurbedinov.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.