23 Oct 2019 16:10

Uzbek Islamist fines in Crimea for making calls for extremism

SIMFEROPOL. Oct 23 (Interfax) - The Sevastopol Balaklava District Court has found a local resident guilty of making public calls for extremist activities, the press service for the Russian Federal Security Service's Directorate for Crimea said on Wednesday.

"The man was found guilty of the crime and was given a fine in an amount of 100,000 rubles due to being fully remorseful," the report said.

Investigators determined that the 35-year-old native of Uzbekistan, who led a group of radical Islamists, preached in a religious establishment in Sevastopol, using prohibited literature and calling for "violence against citizens who did not share his views."

"During classes, which were held behind closed doors, he brainwashed people, involving new members in extremist activities. Prohibited literature was also seized as a result of searches of the man's residence," the Federal Security Service's Directorate for Crimea said.

During the investigation, according to the agency, the man admitted his guilt and testified "about connections between Crimean Salaphites and fundamentalist theologian Abu Yakhya of Crimea, who lives in Ukraine."

The case was investigated in accordance with the article dealing with calls for extremist activities.