MOSCOW, June 1 (RAPSI) – The Supreme Court of Crimea on Tuesday sentenced Refat Chubarov, chairman of Majlis of Crimean Tatars banned in Russia as extremist, to 6 years in prison in absentia for organizing mass riots, the court’s press service reports.

According to the case materials, Chubarov is on a wanted list. Thus, his sentence will start from the date of his actual arrest.

The defendant was found guilty of organizing mass riots. However, the court released him from punishment for public calls for actions directed at infringement of Russia’s territorial sovereignty due to the act decriminalization.

The activity of Majlis of Crimean Tatars was suspended in April 2016. Shortly afterwards, the Supreme Court of Crimea declared the organization extremist. In September 2016, Russia’s Supreme Court upheld the ruling.