22 September 2018, 17:02
Imam Makhmud Velitov asks to replace rest of his sentence with a fine
Makhmud Velitov, the Imam of the Moscow mosque "Yardyam", has filed to the administration of the penal colony in Astrakhan a motion to replace the remained part of his sentenced with a fine. The defence treats such an option for his release as more favourable than the conditional early relief (CER). Makhmud Velitov needs surgery which can be done only after his release, reported the Imam's advocate.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on August 29, it became known about the urgent hospitalization of Makhmud Velitov to the hospital at the penal colony in Astrakhan. On September 19, he was transferred to a penal colony with conditions for extremely low mobile people. The defence compared the Makhmud Velitov's transfer to another penal colony with torture.
In April 2017, Makhmud Velitov was sentenced to three years of imprisonment for preaching about Abdullah Gappaev, a killed Dagestani religious figure. The court found that the preaching justified terrorism. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" recognized Makhmud Velitov as a political prisoner.
According to medical officers, Makhmud Velitov needs a new heart surgery, which can be done only at a civil hospital. The health state of Makhmud Velitov will deteriorate again until he undergoes the surgery, said advocate Dagir Khasavov.
"It's just torture of the elderly sick man," the advocate noted.
Makhmud Velitov is to be released on September 14, 2019. He has already served two-thirds of his sentence and may ask for a release under CER, but the defence believes the replacement of the remained part of sentence with a fine is more favourable, the advocate explains.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on September 22, 2018 at 02:55 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Author: Alyona Sadovskaya Source: CK correspondent
