Detention: On the night of September 3-4, 2021, officers of the Russian FSB conducted a search at the house of Crimean Tatar activist and citizen journalist Asan Islyamovich Akhtemov in the village of Levadki near Simferopol. After the search, he was taken to an unknown location, and his relatives did not know his whereabouts for almost ten days. An independent lawyer was not allowed to see him. Later, Asan stated that during the first days after his detention, he was beaten, tortured with electric shocks, taken to the forest, threatened with execution, and forced to sign FSB-prepared 'confessions'. Along with him, his cousin Aziz Akhtemov and the first deputy head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Nariman Dzhelyalov were detained. All three were accused of allegedly sabotaging a gas pipeline in the village of Perevalne. Ukrainian and international human rights defenders stated that the case was politically motivated and fabricated.

Sentence: On September 21, 2022, the occupying Supreme Court of Crimea found Asan Akhtemov guilty of sabotage, smuggling, and illegal storage of explosives, sentencing him to 15 years in prison, a fine of 500,000 rubles, and one year of restricted freedom after release. Subsequently, the appellate court increased the sentence, determining that the first three years of the punishment should be served in prison, not immediately in a strict regime colony. Human rights defenders emphasized that the sentence was based on testimonies obtained under torture and did not meet the standards of fair trial.

Asan Islyamovich Akhtemov was born on December 5, 1989, in the village of Levadki, Simferopol district. His mother worked as a nurse, and his father in a printing house. He graduated from Simferopol Secondary School No. 4 in 2007.

In 2012, he graduated from the Crimean Institute of Information and Printing Technologies (KIIPT UAP) with a degree in publishing and printing technology.

On October 4, 2013, Asan got married. In 2014, his son was born, and four years later, in 2018, a daughter.

Since 2015, he worked as a journalist and assistant editor of the Crimean Tatar newspaper 'Avdet'. He is passionate about making leather products in the national style. He is a co-organizer of the chess tournament in the Republic of Crimea 'Altin tamga', as well as a participant in the public organization 'Nefes', and a co-organizer of the annual online dictation event in the Crimean Tatar language. Additionally, he was a participant in various events dedicated to the cultural and social life of the Crimean Tatars.

After the occupation of Crimea, he did not abandon public activities. Due to his active civic stance, work as a journalist, and support for the Crimean Tatar community, human rights defenders believe that Asan came under the scrutiny of Russian special services. On the night of September 4, 2021, armed security forces broke into his house. The family did not know for a long time where he was being held. When a lawyer was finally able to meet with Asan, he detailed the torture: beatings, electric shocks, psychological pressure, and threats of murder. According to the political prisoner, it was under this pressure that he was forced to sign testimonies, which he later completely recanted in court.

During the trial, Asan Akhtemov repeatedly stated that all his initial 'confessions' were obtained under torture. He detailed how FSB officers beat him, used electric shocks, put a bag over his head, and threatened him and his relatives. According to Asan, after the torture, he was forced to memorize a text prepared by investigators and read it in front of a camera. Despite these testimonies, the court refused to conduct an effective investigation into the torture allegations, and the coerced testimonies remained one of the key pieces of evidence for the prosecution.

Human rights defenders called the case of Asan Akhtemov, his brother Aziz, and Nariman Dzhelyalov one of the most high-profile politically motivated cases in recent years in occupied Crimea. They noted that the detentions occurred immediately after the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform, and the charges were used to increase pressure on the Crimean Tatar community and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people.

On September 21, 2022, the occupying Supreme Court of Crimea sentenced Asan Akhtemov to 15 years in prison, imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles, and one year of restricted freedom after release. Later, the Appellate Military Court upheld the sentence, only changing the order of serving the punishment: the first three years he must spend in prison, followed by a strict regime colony.

After being transferred to Russia, Asan's health began to deteriorate. Human rights defenders reported dental problems, joint pain, and a general decline in well-being. At the same time, he repeatedly complained about inadequate medical care and harsh detention conditions. Despite this, Asan maintains contact with his family through correspondence. His wife and relatives regularly speak about his case, and human rights organizations continue international campaigns in his support.

As of July 5, 2026, Asan Akhtemov continues to serve an unlawfully imposed sentence by a Russian court. Ukraine and international human rights organizations consider him a political prisoner and emphasize that the case has become one of the most striking examples of the use of torture and forced 'confessions' in politically motivated criminal prosecutions of Crimean Tatars.

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

Photo: Crimean Solidarity / ZMINA / Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Date updated: 05.07.2026.