Detention: On May 29, 2023, the FSB of the Russian Federation reported the detention of two men, described as participants in an illegal armed group. Human rights defenders note that the brothers were detained directly in the field during work.
Oleksii Settarov was charged under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for 'participation in an armed formation on the territory of a foreign state, not provided for by the legislation of that state, with purposes contrary to the interests of Russia.' The case was linked to Oleksii's alleged participation in the Crimean Tatar Noman Çelebicihan Battalion.

Sentence: On October 26, 2023, the Russian-controlled Rozdolne District Court in occupied Crimea sentenced Oleksii Settarov to 5 years in a strict regime colony. He was to serve the first year of the sentence in prison. The sentence came into effect.

Oleksii Andriyovych Settarov was born on February 12, 1999. He is a Crimean Tatar, a citizen of Ukraine and Russia, residing in the Rozdolne district of occupied Crimea. Before his detention, he was engaged in agricultural work, was married, and had two young children.

According to the Russian investigation, Oleksii, along with his younger brother Volodymyr, participated in the activities of the Crimean Tatar Noman Çelebicihan Battalion from January to March 2019.

The case materials state that Oleksii and Volodymyr did not participate in combat operations.

The criminal cases against the brothers were considered separately. Oleksii Settarov was sentenced on October 26, 2023, while his younger brother Volodymyr was sentenced on November 22, 2023. Volodymyr received 5 years and 6 months of imprisonment.

Human rights defenders consider the criminal prosecution of the Settarov brothers to be politically motivated and a violation of the right to a fair trial.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Date of update: 09/11/2026.