Detention: On February 14, 2019, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Krasnogvardeysky district of temporarily occupied Crimea. Following the search, Eskender Abdulhaniyev was detained along with Rustem Emiruseinov and Arsen Abkhairov. All three were charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code for alleged participation in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as terrorist. In Ukraine, the activities of this organization are not prohibited. Human rights defenders consider the case politically motivated and view it as part of systemic persecution of Crimean Tatars.

Sentence: On November 3, 2020, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Eskender Abdulhaniyev to 12 years of imprisonment. The first four years are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony. On November 1, 2021, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld the sentence.

Eskender Izetovich Abdulhaniyev was born on December 16, 1997, in the village of Oktyabrske, Krasnogvardeysky district, Crimea.

He studied at Oktyabrska School No. 1 until the eighth grade. In 2012, he enrolled in the Bilohirsk madrasah, where he studied for one year. He then returned home and in 2014 graduated from the 11th grade of Oktyabrska National School No. 3 named after Ismail Gasprinsky.

From a young age, Eskender dreamed of becoming a programmer. However, he was unable to fulfill this dream. Due to his father's serious illness, he was forced to work immediately after finishing school to help his mother support the family. At the time of his arrest, he was unmarried.

Eskender actively participated in the public life of the Crimean Tatar community. He regularly attended court hearings in politically motivated cases, supported the families of political prisoners, and offered help when needed.

On February 14, 2019, his life changed dramatically. After a morning search of his home, Eskender was detained and taken to Simferopol, later placed in a pre-trial detention centre. Along with him, Rustem Emiruseinov and Arsen Abkhairov were detained. The investigation claimed they were involved in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir. However, according to Ukrainian and international human rights defenders, the case materials lacked evidence of preparation or commission of violent acts. The charges were primarily based on covert audio recordings of religious discussions, expert conclusions, and testimonies of anonymous witnesses.

From the outset, the case was accompanied by human rights defenders from 'Crimean Solidarity', the Human Rights Centre ZMINA, and other organizations. They repeatedly stated that Russia illegally applies its criminal law in occupied Crimea, violating international humanitarian law norms.

While in the pre-trial detention centre, Eskender repeatedly informed his lawyers about inadequate detention conditions. According to 'Crimean Solidarity', he was held in a special block where the cell was cramped, poorly ventilated, and shower access was provided only once a week. The defense emphasized that such conditions degrade human dignity and contradict international standards for the treatment of prisoners.

On November 3, 2020, the court in Rostov-on-Don delivered a guilty verdict—12 years of imprisonment. A year later, the appellate court upheld it. Human rights defenders called the decision another example of using Russian anti-terrorism legislation to persecute Crimean Tatars.

In early 2022, Eskender was transferred to the 'Vladimirsky Central' prison. The journey took several weeks, during which he passed through eight penitentiary institutions. After meeting with his client, the lawyer reported that his main concerns were health issues, lack of medical care, and constant psychological pressure.

In October of the same year, it became known that Eskender had declared a hunger strike twice, protesting against detention conditions. His mother, Emine Abdulhaniyeva, stated that during his imprisonment, her son had lost significant weight and even several teeth. The family repeatedly highlighted his deteriorating health, and human rights defenders demanded he be provided with adequate medical care.

In 2024, Eskender was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 41 in Yurga, Kemerovo region. He spent almost five months in a punitive isolation cell. The colony administration labeled him a 'malicious regime violator', although, according to lawyers, disciplinary measures were often applied without sufficient grounds. The political prisoner himself complained that he was not allowed to fully perform religious rites, and requests to meet with an imam or oversight representatives went unanswered. Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets called such detention conditions a form of torture.

In 2025, Abdulhaniyev was transferred to Colony No. 29 in Kemerovo. Almost immediately, he was placed in a single-type cell (EPKT) for six months. The lawyer reported that the decision was made in violation of procedure, without a full review by the disciplinary commission. According to 'Crimean Solidarity', the administration used even minor reasons for punishing the prisoner, including performing ablution before prayer.

Eskender Abdulhaniyev remains imprisoned today. Ukrainian human rights organizations continue to demand his release, emphasizing that the case is political in nature and that his detention conditions violate fundamental human rights and international law norms.

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

Photo: Crimean Solidarity.

Date updated: 03.07.2026.