Two Crimean Tatars detained following searches in Crimea – Mejlis deputy head

17:56, 17.11.2016 1 min read

Crimean law-enforcers have detained two Crimean Tatars after searches at their houses, Deputy Head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Ilmi Umerov has said.

"This happened not the way it is usually done. There were reports about three searches and detention of two men in Bakhchisarai district. Another search was carried out simultaneously in Simferopol district. We cannot make a connection between them. Unfortunately, I was unable to arrive at the site of the event and communicated only with neighbors and local activists, who were present there," Umerov said on the 112.ua channel on Thursday.

According to him, during the searches the security forces were looking for banned literature, drugs and weapons.

"They were looking for banned literature, drugs and weapons. According to rumors, these are guys who practice Islam. It looks like they are trying to collect a group of four to five people to declare one of them as an organizer and the rest of the participants [of a criminal group]," he said.