On 8 December 2016, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation forced human rights defender Emir Usein Kuku to undergo psychiatric examination. Later on the same day, without the human rights defender present, the Kievsky District Court of Simferopol, rendered a decision to extend his pre-trial detention until 8 February 2017. The human rights defender has been in pre-trial detention since 11 February 2016.

On 8 December, Emir Usein Kuku was transferred from Simferopol pre-trial custody to a psychiatric facility in the same city. The same day, in Emir Usein Kuku’s absence the Kievsky District Court issued a ruling on the extension of Emir Usein Kuku’s pre-trial detention until 8 February 2017. Emir Usein Kuku’s lawyer and family were present at the hearing. On 3 November, the decision to subject Emir Usein Kuku to forced psychiatric examination was handed down by the Federal Security Service.

Emir Usein Kuku is a defendant in the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir case and has been in pre-trial custody since 11 February 2016. He is accused of terrorism and alleged involvement in the Muslim political organisation, Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is designated as a terrorist group in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Germany, but operates legally in Ukraine and other states. On 5 September 2016, the Kiev District Court of Simferopol dismissed Emir Usein Kuku’s appeal, retained the charges against him, and extended his pre-trial detention until 8 December 2016. While in custody, the human rights defender and his family have been subjected to harassment and intimidation on several occasions.

Front Line Defenders is concerned by the forced psychiatric examination of Emir Usein Kuku, and urges authorities in Crimea to ensure that the treatment of Emir Usein Kuku, while in detention, adheres to the conditions set out in the ‘Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment’, adopted by UN General Assembly resolution 43/173 of 9 December 1988. Front Line Defenders also condemns the extended pre-trial detention and charges brought against Emir Usein Kuku, which it believes to be an attempt to  prevent him from continuing his legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights in Crimea.

Source: Frontine defenders