Detention: On March 27, 2019, in occupied Simferopol, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars as part of the so-called 'second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' After a repeated search at Tofik Abdulgaziyev's home, he was detained and taken into custody. Russian authorities accused him of participating in the activities of the Islamic organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir,' which is recognized as 'terrorist' in Russia, although it is not banned in Ukraine. Charges were brought under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization') and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code ('preparation for violent seizure of power'). Human rights organizations called the case politically motivated.

Sentence: On May 12, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Tofik Abdulgaziyev guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in a strict regime colony. According to the sentence, he must spend the first five years in prison, and the remainder in a strict regime colony. In May 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in the city of Vlasikha upheld the sentence. In July 2023, Abdulgaziyev was transferred to the Verkhneuralsk prison in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia. On October 26, 2026, the Metallurgical District Court of Chelyabinsk decided to release Crimean political prisoner Tofik Abdulgaziyev on health grounds. He spent 7 years and 7 months in Russian detention out of the 12 years sentenced.

Tofik Abdulgaziyev was born on June 19, 1982, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He comes from a Crimean Tatar family that, after many years in deportation, was able to return to Crimea only in 2000. Tofik is trained as an auto mechanic-gasman (secondary specialized education), but he practically did not work in his specialty, performing various jobs. He is married and has four children: a son and three daughters.

After the occupation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014, Tofik Abdulgaziyev actively engaged in public activities. He became one of the activists of the public association 'Crimean Solidarity,' which unites the families of political prisoners, human rights defenders, journalists, and volunteers. His activities included helping the families of political prisoners, participating in the delivery of food to pre-trial detention centers, attending politically motivated court processes, supporting compatriots during searches, and highlighting human rights violations in occupied Crimea. He was also a sound engineer for the organization and participated in the children's project 'Crimean Childhood,' which organized events for the children of political prisoners.

On May 4, 2017, the first search took place at Abdulgaziyev's home, but he was not detained then. Already at that time, he came under the scrutiny of Russian security structures due to his public activity and support for Crimean political prisoners.

On March 27, 2019, the FSB conducted a new wave of mass searches among Crimean Tatars. After a repeated search, Tofik Abdulgaziyev was detained along with other 'Crimean Solidarity' activists. The Russian investigation claimed he allegedly participated in the activities of the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' organization. As in other similar Crimean cases, the evidence base was mainly built on covert audio recordings of religious conversations, linguistic expert opinions, and testimonies of anonymous witnesses. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations have repeatedly emphasized that such cases are tools for persecuting Crimean Tatars for their civic position and religious beliefs.

After a prolonged stay in a pre-trial detention center, the trial concluded on May 12, 2022, with a guilty verdict. The court sentenced Abdulgaziyev to 12 years in prison, despite the lack of evidence of preparation or commission of violent acts. In May 2023, the appellate instance upheld the sentence, and by July, he was transferred to the Verkhneuralsk prison in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia. He is held at the FKU Prison GUFSVP of the Russian Federation for the Chelyabinsk region, address: Severnaya St., 1, Verkhneuralsk, Chelyabinsk region, Russia, 457670.

Detention in Russian places of confinement significantly worsened the political prisoner's health. In 2024, he was transferred to a prison hospital, where he was diagnosed with disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis with involvement of intrathoracic lymph nodes. Later, doctors also found bilateral pneumonia, hydrothorax, anemia, chronic heart failure, gastritis, kidney stones, and other severe diseases. Some of these diagnoses are included in the official list of diseases that, according to Russian law, are grounds for release due to health conditions. However, despite numerous appeals from lawyers and family, the court denied early release.

By the end of 2025, Tofik Abdulgaziyev's condition further deteriorated. Doctors diagnosed a malignant brain tumor with metastases (glioblastoma). Due to the illness, he almost completely lost his vision, began losing consciousness, lost significant weight, and required constant medical supervision. His wife Aliye Kurtametova and human rights organizations repeatedly appealed to the international community to secure his release, emphasizing that continued detention in the colony posed a direct threat to his life. Abdulgaziyev himself, in a letter conveyed through his wife, called his severe illness 'another trial' and thanked everyone who supports Crimean political prisoners.

On October 26, 2026, the Metallurgical District Court of Chelyabinsk decided to release Crimean political prisoner Tofik Abdulgaziyev on health grounds. He spent 7 years and 7 months in Russian detention out of the 12 years sentenced. During his imprisonment, he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor – glioblastoma, tuberculosis, and other severe diseases. He almost completely lost his vision and lost significant weight.

Tofik returned to temporarily occupied Crimea. However, after his release, he was prohibited from leaving his place of residence. The most important thing now is for him to receive proper medical care and undergo treatment. In August 2026, his mother, Roza Abdulgaziyeva, passed away, never seeing her son's release.

Information used from open sources: Suspilne Crimea, CrimeaSOS, ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Ukrinform, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, QIRIM.Media.

Photo: Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners.

Date of update: 02.07.2026.