Court slightly reduces sentences of Gadjiev, Rizvanov, and Tambiev

In his final speech, Dagestani journalist Abdulmumin Gadjiev has requested court to fully acquit him in the case on financing terrorism. However, the military court of appeal only reduced by two months the sentences for Abdulmumin Gadjiev, Kemal Tambiev, and Abubakar Rizvanov.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that the appeal against the sentence of Abdulmumin Gadjiev, Kemal Tambiev, and Abubakar Rizvanov was filed back in September 2023. The date for its consideration was not being set for a long time. On October 11, the military court of appeal in the Moscow Region dismissed the motions at the first hearing on the case. At the court hearing held on October 16, advocates declared that Abdulmumin Gadjiev, Kemal Tambiev, and Abubakar Rizvanov were not guilty. The defenders requested the court for full acquittal of their clients. In his final speech, Abubakar Rizvanov pointed out multiple violations in the case and the verdict. A public prosecutor proposed to reduce the punishment without mentioning the proposed term of imprisonment.

The military court of appeal located in the town of Vlasikha not far from Moscow slightly reduced the terms of imprisonment. Abdulmumin Gadjiev was sentenced to 16 years and 10 months, Kemal Tambiev – to 17 years and four months, and Abubakar Rizvanov – to 17 years and 10 months of imprisonment.

Before the pronouncement of the verdict, Abdulmumin Gadjiev delivered his final speech. The journalist again pleaded not guilty. “Abubakar Rizvanov is being portrayed as a repeat offender. He has been accused of terrorist activity for organizing charitable foundations. Kemal Tambiev is a young man, a businessman, and he was also involved in charity activity. They were only involved in charity work and were not involved in anything illegal,” Abdulmumin Gadjiev emphasized.

According to the journalist’s statement, the investigator himself was confused about “what charge to hang on the defendants.” “The investigator brought the charge of membership in IS* before 2014. Later, realizing his mistake, he added membership in terrorist organizations that he simply saw on the FSB website. In fact, the charges before 2014 made the situation worse. It is important for us that the charges are dropped not because of the statute of limitations. If this charge is dropped, then the second part of the charge will also be invalid. Only a complete acquittal will satisfy us,” Abdulmumin Gadjiev summed up.

Every defendant in the criminal case was granted the mitigation of only two months off, noted Ashot Norvardyan, an advocate of Abdulmumin Gadjiev.

Let us remind you that one of the three judges who pronounced the verdict voiced his dissenting opinion, in which he criticized the grounds for the guilty verdict and in fact acquitted Abdulmumin Gadjiev.

*On December 29, 2014, the Supreme Court (SC) of the Russian Federation recognized the organization “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL or IS) as a terrorist international organization and banned its activities in Russia.