The Free Nations League condemns a new wave of searches and arrests of Tatars in Russia

The Federal Security Service carries out searches and arrests among activists of the Tatar national movement. Within four days, Russian security officers came to search four activists of the national movement: Rail Sadriev, Enghel Fattakhov, Rafik Karimullin, Zinnur Akhliullin. Fattakhov was arrested. Theater figure Sadriev was prohibited from going on stage and communicating with colleagues. What happened to Karimullin and Akhliullin is still unknown.

Two criminal cases have been opened against Ruslan Aisin, the presenter of Free Nations League Youtube channel, who previously actively participated in the Tatar national movement.

Following the mass arrests of Bashkir patriots, Moscow is unleashing a new wave of repression against the Tatars.

The Free Nations League publicly calls on the leadership of Turkey, as the leader of the Turkic world, to raise its voice in defense of the Muslim Turks of the Volga region, who these days have felt the full power of the Russian repressive apparatus. The Tatars and Bashkirs today are in dire need of Turkey’s support. Ankara has strength to provide such support, demanding that Moscow stop repression against Turkic and other peoples living in the territories of modern Russia.