A military court sentenced the Imam of the Moscow mosque to three years in prison for extremism
The court also decided to take Mahmoud Valitova into custody in the courtroom.
MOSCOW, April 28. /TASS/. The Moscow district military court on Friday sentenced to three years in a penal colony of the former Imam of the capital mosque of Mahmud Velitov, finding him guilty in the public justification of terrorism. About it the correspondent of TASS from the courtroom.
“Recognize Valitova guilty, sentenced him to imprisonment for a term of three years in a General regime colony,” announced the presiding judge.
The court also decided to take Valitova custody in court, on bail to be cancelled.
Protection of Mahmoud Valitova intends to appeal the verdict, said the lawyer Dagir khasavov.
As found by the court, 27 September 2013 Velitov during prayers in the mosque on the street Khachaturian in Moscow said in a speech justifying the activities of one of the members of the banned terrorist organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir”. According to the conclusions of psycho-linguistic forensic examination, according to the court, in his speech contained signs of justification for terrorist activities.
Earlier during debate of the parties the public Prosecutor asked to recognize Valitova guilty and sentenced to 3.5 years of imprisonment in a General regime colony. In addition, state prosecution for three years asked to deprive Valitova the right to engage in religious activities. The Imam and his defense insisted on the acquittal, guilt Velitov does not recognize.
During the preliminary investigation, the Imam kept under house arrest, but at the end of February this year, the investigation changed the measure of restraint on recognizance not to leave.