Imam Makhmud Velitov hospitalized, his defence reports

Makhmud Velitov, Imam of the Moscow mosque "Yardyam", sentenced on the charge of justifying terrorism, was transferred to a prison hospital with complaints of heart pain, his advocate reported.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in April 2017, Makhmud Velitov was sentenced to three years of imprisonment in a penal colony. The court found justification of terrorism in the Makhmud Velitov's preaching about killed Dagestani religious figure Abdullah Gappaev, who, according to investigators, was a member of the organization "Hizb ut-Tahrir" banned in Russia. The Imam claims he was not aware that the law enforcement bodies considered Abdullah Gappaev as a terrorist. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" recognized the Imam to be a political prisoner.

"Unfortunately, the health state of the Sheikh (Makhmud Velitov, note of the 'Caucasian Knot') got worse in prison. He many times got into prison hospitals. On July 22, he was again transferred to a hospital with pains in his heart and heavy breathing," wrote this night Dagir Khasavov on his Facebook page.

According to him, Makhmud Velitov, who "suffered two heart attacks", is Category II Invalid, and "there is no medicine for him and it is impossible to cure him" in the penal colony.

"He cannot be kept in prison without walks in the fresh air prescribed to him by doctors ... The conditions for serving the punishment of the innocent Imam are unbearable for him. His life is in danger," the advocate noted.

Dagir Khasavov also believes that the verdict against his client should be reviewed.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 31, 2018 at 11:09 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.