Prisoners at Vladimir Central prison are not receiving letters due to the absence of a censor

Those convicted in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir case,” Seitumer Seitumerov and Amet Suleimanov, are not receiving letters in Vladimir Central prison due to the absence of a censor, Crimean Solidarity reports.

The prisoners’ wives have not been able to contact their husbands—neither by phone nor in writing—for more than two months. To find out what is happening to their partners, Pakize Seitumerova and Lilya Lumanova travelled from Crimea to Vladimir Oblast (a region in western Russia) for a visit. There, prison staff told them the problem was due to the absence of a censor, and they have been unable to quickly hire a replacement due to the low pay for the position.

In October 2021, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don convicted Amet Suleimanov, Rustem Seytmemetov, and Osman Seitumerov under charges of involvement in a terrorist organisation (Part 2, Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code), while Seitumer Seitumerov was convicted under the article on organising a terrorist organisation (Part 1, Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code). In addition, all were found guilty of preparing for the violent seizure of power (Article 278 of the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Part 1, Article 30). Seitumer Seitumerov was sentenced to 17 years in prison, Osman Seitumerov to 14 years, Rustem Seytmemetov to 13 years and Amet Suleimanov to 12 years. In September 2024, the sentence was upheld on appeal.

According to investigators, those involved in the case were allegedly preparing to “seize power by force through the total Islamisation of the population.” The charges were based on two wiretap audio files recorded at the “Takhtaly Jami” mosque in Bakhchysarai (a city in Crimea) and the testimony of two anonymous witnesses. No weapons, explosives, ammunition or plans to seize power or prepare terrorist acts were found among the men.

On 2 July, Amet Suleimanov also reported that his health had deteriorated, Crimean Solidarity reported.

His wife, Lilya Lumanova, said that Vladimir Central is still not giving any answer about when Suleimanov will have heart valve replacement surgery. The convicted man said he constantly has high blood pressure. In May 2024, he already suffered a hypertensive crisis.

“The prison administration says it all depends on a response from Moscow, which we have not yet received,” said Suleimanov’s wife.

Last autumn, it transpired that the Krym Health Ministry had, without notification, removed Suleimanov from the surgery waiting list back in 2021.