Detention: On January 23, 2016, in Alupka and Simeiz on the southern coast of Crimea, three local residents were detained: Mueddin Alivapov, Sergey Kudryashov, and Vyacheslav Butnik. They were accused of arson attacks on cars in Greater Yalta — a total of 12 cars burned in January 2016. Notably, the arsons did not stop after their detention; a resident of Chelyabinsk was also arrested in the same case.

Sentence: On January 18, 2018, the Russia-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea upheld Mueddin Alivapov's sentence of 4.5 years in a settlement colony and ordered compensation to the victims amounting to three million rubles. In comparison, the sentences for other defendants in the same case were reduced — Kudryashov to 3 years, Butnik to 2.5 years. After serving his sentence, Alivapov was released.

Mueddin Alivapov (in some sources referred to as Muetdin Alvapov) is a Crimean Tatar youth from Alupka, who was 23 years old at the time of the sentence. Abdureshit Jepparov, coordinator of the Crimean Human Rights Contact Group, who observed the trial, reported: “Mueddin said in court that the confession was obtained through torture, but the court did not heed his words.” The human rights advocate also mentioned arranging to meet with Alivapov's mother, Zarema, to discuss possible assistance for the family.

The case of car arsons on the southern coast of Crimea attracted the attention of human rights defenders due to Alivapov's claims of torture during the investigation and the continuation of crimes after his detention, which questions the validity of the charges.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Radio Liberty (Crimea.Realities), CrimeaSOS.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Date updated: 03.07.2026.