World Bulletin / News Desk

A court in Russia's Tatarstan Republic sentenced Rafis Kashapov, chairman of the Tatar Public Center, to three years in prison Tuesday.

Chally City Court found Kashapov guilty of calling for separatism and inciting ethnic hatred. 

Kashpov was the author of several articles on the Internet regarding Russia's involvement in Ukraine, that is criticizing the annexation of Crimean peninsula and support for the pro-Russian separatists in Donbas region.

Tatar activist was detained since December 28, upon his arrival back from Turkey. 

Kashapov's Tatar Public Center is an NGO in Tatarstan's second largest city, Chally, which campaigns to preserve Tatars' national identity, language, and culture.