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Court extends arrest of Russian blogger suspected of extremism by 2 months

If found guilty, the blogger faces up to 20 years behind bars

MOSCOW, April 18. /TASS/. Moscow’s Meshchansky district court has ruled to extend by another two months the arrest of blogger Alibek Mirzekhanov, accused of recruiting people for terrorist organizations and inciting terrorism.

"The court ruled to grant the request of investigators to extend the pretrial custody of Mirzekhanov by another two months, until June 20, 2019," a court source told TASS.

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Mirzekhanov was arrested earlier this spring on charges of "taking part in the activity of an organization, which is recognized as terrorist by Russia’s law" and "inciting and recruiting for terrorism activity." The blogger has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the case files, two individuals, who had been convicted over terrorism-related activity by the Moscow District Military Court, gave evidence against Mirzekhanov. They claimed that in 2014 the blogger showed them videos with calls to go to Syria and take part in combat actions on the side of the Islamic State terrorist organization (outlawed in Russia).

If found guilty, the blogger faces up to 20 years behind bars.

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