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On 17 September, the Naberezhnye Chelny City Court in Tatarstan sentenced 74-year-old activist of the Tatar national movement, Zinnur Agliullin, to two and a half years’ suspended sentence for repeated incitement of hatred and enmity (part 1, article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code), reports “Sova.”
The prosecutor requested a two and a half year prison sentence for him. The court took into account Agliullin’s state of health and lack of previous convictions. The activist called his prosecution “revenge by the authorities for the establishment of the Tatar civic centre—for the fact that this public organisation prevented several upheavals and saved society from infighting.”
The grounds for the prosecution were a video broadcast called “The Elders Speak” in a Telegram chat, in which, according to the investigation, Agliullin discussed interethnic relations in Russia. In the video, he compares Russians to prison overseers, says Russians “only respect strength,” and that “Russia cannot be Russia if it does not oppress other peoples, if it doesn’t take away—how to put it correctly—if it doesn’t seize their lands and resources.” The man also recounts in the broadcast that he experienced injustice as a child and thus became a nationalist. He advocates constantly using the Tatar language in everyday life and condemns Tatars who have become russified.
A search of Agliullin’s home in connection with this criminal case was conducted in September 2024. In May, there was also a search at his home; at that time he was questioned regarding posts about drone attacks on Tatarstan, and his phone was confiscated.
- In autumn 2023, the activist was fined 16,000 roubles (approximately US$175) for incitement of hatred (article 20.3.1 of the Code of Administrative Offences) over his criticism of the republic’s leadership. At the time, Agliullin stated that the presidents of Tatarstan, Mintimer Shaimiev and Rustam Minnikhanov, had profited financially by threatening Moscow with the Tatar national movement.