MOSCOW, February 14 (RAPSI, Oleg Sivozhelezov) – The Supreme Court of Russia has upheld a 5-year prison sentence delivered to the resident of Dagestan, Girey Aminov, for participation in activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir terrorist organization banned in Russia, the court’s press office told RAPSI on Tuesday.

Aminov was convicted and sentenced on December 5, 2016. He appealed the ruling. The Supreme Court therefor has dismissed Aminov’s appeal against the North Caucasus District Military Court’s decision.

According to law enforcement authorities, Aminov joined the terrorist organization and took part in studying its activity and specialized literature, participated in distribution of leaflets and other events in support of Hizb ut-Tahrir.

Hizb ut-Tahrir (the Party of Islamic Liberation), founded in Jerusalem in 1953, is banned in several Arab and Central Asian countries. Russia's Supreme Court banned the group from operating on the territory of the country in 2003, describing it as a terrorist organization.

Hizb ut-Tahrir members are regularly arrested by the police across Russia, mainly in big cities in central Russia, the Volga region and Siberia.