Detention: On May 12, 2016, in Bakhchisarai, Autonomous Republic of Crimea (temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine). FSB officers conducted a series of searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars and detained Zevri Abseitov along with Rustem Abiltarov, Remzi Memetov, and Enver Mamutov. All were accused of alleged involvement with the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as 'terrorist', although it is not banned in Ukraine. Human rights defenders consider the case politically motivated.

Sentence: On December 24, 2018, the North Caucasus District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don unlawfully sentenced Zevri Abseitov to 9 years in a high-security penal colony for 'participation in the activities of a terrorist organization' and 'preparation for violent seizure of power'. On July 11, 2019, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation reduced the sentence to 8 years and 9 months. On February 11, 2025, Zevri Abseitov was released after serving the full term of the unlawfully imposed sentence.

Zevri Abseitov was born on July 12, 1975, and is a Crimean Tatar. After his family's return from deportation, he lived in Bakhchisarai. Before his arrest, he was engaged in entrepreneurial activities and was known among his compatriots as a hardworking person who supported his family and raised children. He is married and has three children.

After the occupation of Crimea, the Russian Federation began systematic persecution of Crimean Tatars, especially active Muslim communities. One of the main tools of such repressions became criminal cases accusing individuals of involvement with the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir. International human rights organizations have repeatedly emphasized that during the examination of such cases, no evidence of preparation or commission of violent crimes is presented, and the accusations are based on religious conversations, expert opinions, and testimonies of secret witnesses.

On May 12, 2016, FSB officers searched Zevri Abseitov's house in Bakhchisarai. After the search, he was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center. Along with him, three other Crimean Tatars were detained. This case became known as the 'first Bakhchisarai group of Hizb ut-Tahrir' and was one of the first large-scale political cases against Crimean Tatars after the occupation of the peninsula.

Zevri Abseitov spent over 8 years in Russian detention facilities. Initially, he was held in Crimea, and after sentencing, he was transferred to Russia. He served his sentence in a high-security colony far from home, which significantly complicated visits from his family. Human rights defenders repeatedly reported inadequate detention conditions, limited access to medical care, and psychological pressure on Crimean political prisoners.

The Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, and Crimean Solidarity have repeatedly emphasized that his case is an example of persecution based on religious and ethnic grounds. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations demanded his release and recognized the trial as failing to meet fair trial standards.

On February 11, 2025, after serving the full unlawfully imposed sentence, Zevri Abseitov was released along with Rustem Abiltarov. The Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea stressed that their release is not an act of justice, as they fully served the unlawful sentence imposed by the occupying authorities.

As of July 24, 2026, Zevri Abseitov remains free after release from Russian imprisonment. His case continues to be one of the most notable examples of politically motivated persecution of Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea.

Information sourced from open sources: Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, CrimeaSOS, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Crimean Solidarity, Suspilne Crimea, Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners.

Photo: CrimeaSOS.

Update date: 24.07.2026