The former head of the Muslim community “Alushta” has been transferred to Penal Colony No. 1 in Arkhangelsk. He had spent half a year in hospital.

Lenur Khalilov, a defendant in the ‘Alushta group’ Hizb ut-Tahrir case, has been transferred to Penal Colony No. 1 in Arkhangelsk, a city in northern Russia. This was reported by ‘Crimean Solidarity,’ citing his wife Umida Khalilova.

The man has been held in the facility since February this year. However, almost immediately after his transfer, he was admitted to hospital, where he remained until mid-July.

The reason for his hospitalisation is not yet known. According to human rights defenders, Khalilov’s lawyer is clarifying his diagnosis and illnesses. Previously, the Crimean Tatar had not reported any health problems.

Residents of Alushta and the Alushta city district—Lenur Khalilov, Ruslan Mesutov, Ruslan Nagaev and Eldar Kantimirov—were detained after mass raids in June 2019.

In August 2021, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found the defendants guilty of organising and participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation (Parts 1 and 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code), as well as preparing for the violent overthrow of the government (Article 278 of the Criminal Code, with the use of Part 1 of Article 30 of the Criminal Code). A year later, the appellate court upheld this decision.

Khalilov and Mesutov, considered by the court to be the organisers of the terrorist cell, were sentenced to 18 years in a strict regime colony, while Nagaev and Kantimirov received sentences of 13 and 12 years respectively as participants. For the first two years, they are required to serve their sentences in prison. In addition, the court imposed a year of restriction of freedom on all the believers after their release.

After the sentence was upheld, Khalilov was transferred to “Vladimir Central” prison. Before his arrest, he was the chair of the independent Muslim community “Alushta.”