MOSCOW, December 12 - RAPSI. The Moscow Court will hear the case of a man accused of being part of the Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami international terrorist organization and inciting ethnic hatred, the Interior Ministry reported on Wednesday.

Investigators reported that he recruited new members for the organization.

The corresponding articles of the Criminal Code stipulate a punishment for these offences of up to five years in prison.

The 36-year-old defendant, born in Tajikistan, attracted the attention of law enforcement authorities last year.

"The officers discovered that he was distributing extremist leaflets. According to the conclusions of the psychological and linguistic assessment, the leaflet contained extremist photos and words aimed at inciting hatred and animosity, and which also debased individuals for their religious beliefs," the Interior Ministry said.

Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami was banned in Russia by a Supreme Court ruling in 2003.