Arrest: On March 27, 2019, in occupied Crimea, FSB officers conducted large-scale searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol and the nearby villages of Kamianka, Strohanivka, and Bila Skelya. After the search, Vladlen Abdulkadirov was detained along with more than twenty other Crimean Tatars in the so-called 'second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' He was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization'). In Ukraine, the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir are not prohibited. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations consider Vladlen's persecution politically motivated.

Sentence: On May 12, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Vladlen Abdulkadirov to 12 years of imprisonment in a high-security colony. The first four years of the sentence are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a high-security colony. Human rights defenders emphasized that the sentence was based on accusations without evidence of preparation or commission of violent acts.

Vladlen Vasylovych Abdulkadirov was born on December 28, 1979, in Namangan, Uzbekistan, into a Crimean Tatar family. Like thousands of other Crimean Tatars, his family lived far from their native Crimea due to the 1944 deportation. It was only in 2001 that the family managed to return to their homeland. Settling in Crimea, Vladlen obtained Ukrainian citizenship and began rebuilding his life from scratch.

After moving, he worked as a warehouse manager in commercial companies and later opened his own mobile phone repair workshop. Together with his wife Gulzar, he raised three daughters. To his family, he was a caring husband and father, and to his friends, a person who never refused to help. He was well-known in the Crimean Tatar community, as Vladlen was always ready to contribute to the common cause.

He actively participated in his community's life: helping organize children's celebrations for Kurban Bayram and Eid al-Fitr, contributing to the improvement of Strohanivka, supporting families of Crimean political prisoners, sending parcels to pre-trial detention centers, and attending court hearings to support compatriots. Villagers recall that Vladlen was one of those who initiated the construction of a playground. He did not manage to complete this project due to his arrest.

On March 27, 2019, FSB officers came to Vladlen's house with a search warrant. After the search, he was detained and taken to a pre-trial detention center. Russian investigators accused him of participating in the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Ukrainian and international human rights defenders emphasize that the case lacks evidence of preparation or commission of violent crimes. The charges were mainly based on covert audio recordings of religious conversations, expert opinions, and testimonies of anonymous witnesses. Therefore, a coalition of Ukrainian human rights organizations recognized Vladlen Abdulkadirov as a person deprived of liberty for political reasons.

During court hearings, Vladlen openly stated that he did not believe in a fair trial for his case. He said that in such processes, the verdicts are determined not by evidence but by the political will of the Russian authorities. His words were repeatedly quoted by human rights defenders as evidence of what Crimean political prisoners face.

On May 12, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Vladlen to 12 years of imprisonment. Initially, he was transferred to a prison in Yelets, Lipetsk region, and later moved to Colony No. 21 in the village of Iksha, Arkhangelsk region — nearly three thousand kilometers from Crimea. His wife reported that the journey took over 70 hours and was accompanied by constant searches and exhausting transfers. Human rights defenders point out that such transfers not only complicate the lives of political prisoners but also effectively deprive them of the opportunity to see their families regularly.

During his imprisonment, Vladlen's health significantly deteriorated. Constant back pain led to a medical examination, which revealed vertebral displacement, intervertebral hernias, osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, and other conditions. Doctors recommended avoiding physical exertion, but the colony administration continued to involve him in hard labor. When he refused to work due to severe pain until receiving MRI results, he was punished with a fine. The necessary medications had to be purchased by his family and sent to the colony.

In addition to spinal issues, Vladlen complained of deteriorating vision, kidney, and liver pain. Human rights organizations have repeatedly stated that Crimean political prisoners in Russian detention facilities are systematically denied adequate medical care. Despite difficult conditions, Vladlen maintains contact with his family through letters and thanks everyone who continues to write to him and participate in solidarity campaigns. For him, this support remains an important reminder that he is not forgotten.

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

Photo: Crimean Solidarity.

Update date: 07/04/2026.