Arrest: On January 24, 2023, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the Dzhankoy district of temporarily occupied Crimea. Ayder Asanov was detained after the search. Along with him, Ekrem Krosh, Osman Abdurazakova, Refat Seydametov, and Leman Zekeryaev were also detained. They were all accused of participating in the activities of the organization "Hizb ut-Tahrir," which Russia considers terrorist, although it is not banned in Ukraine. Human rights organizations emphasized that the case is political and part of systematic repression against Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea.

Sentence: On April 29, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Ayder Asanov guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ("participation in the activities of a terrorist organization") and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 ("Preparation for violent seizure of power") of the Russian Criminal Code due to alleged involvement with "Hizb ut-Tahrir," sentencing him to 11 years of imprisonment. The first three years are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony. Additionally, the court imposed a one-year restriction on freedom of movement after the prison term. Human rights defenders stated that the verdict lacks evidence of preparation or commission of violent acts and is politically motivated.

Ayder Asanov Rizayevich was born on June 3, 1993. He is a Crimean Tatar, residing in the Dzhankoy district of Crimea. Professionally, he is an appliance repair technician. Before his arrest, he worked to support his family and was not a public figure. There is little information about his personal life in open sources, which is typical for many Crimean political prisoners: human rights organizations often deliberately do not disclose details about their families to avoid additional pressure from the occupying authorities. It is known that Ayder is married and led a normal peaceful life before his detention.

On January 24, 2023, Russian security forces simultaneously conducted a series of searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Dzhankoy district. They arrived at Ayder's house early in the morning. After the search, he was detained and taken to Simferopol, where an occupation court ordered his pre-trial detention. The Russian investigation claimed he was allegedly a member of a "Hizb ut-Tahrir" cell. Meanwhile, Ukrainian human rights defenders emphasized that the charges, as in dozens of similar cases, were based on covert audio recordings of religious discussions, expert conclusions, and anonymous testimonies. No evidence of Ayder preparing or committing violent acts was provided by the investigation. Representatives of ZMINA, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, CrimeaSOS, and Crimean Solidarity called the case another example of using anti-terrorism legislation to persecute Crimean Tatars in the occupied peninsula.

After his arrest, Ayder Asanov was held in a Simferopol pre-trial detention center and later transferred to Rostov-on-Don, where the Southern District Military Court heard the case. During the trial, the defense repeatedly emphasized that the case materials did not contain evidence of any terrorist activity. The charges, typical for such cases, were based on covert audio recordings of religious conversations, linguistic examinations, and testimonies of secret witnesses. Human rights defenders noted that this practice has been used by Russia for many years to criminally prosecute Crimean Tatars.

On April 29, 2025, the court found Ayder Asanov guilty and sentenced him to 11 years of imprisonment. According to the sentence, the first three years are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony. Ukrainian human rights organizations stated that the court's decision does not meet the principles of fair trial, and the case itself is politically motivated. They also emphasized that the Russian Federation has no right to apply its criminal law in the territory of occupied Crimea, which contradicts the norms of international humanitarian law.

After the verdict was announced, Ayder was transferred to Russia to serve his sentence. Like other Crimean political prisoners, he was moved hundreds of kilometers from home, significantly complicating the possibility of regular visits with family. Human rights defenders have repeatedly stressed that the transfer of civilians from occupied territory to facilities in the occupying state violates the Fourth Geneva Convention.

There is currently little information in open sources about Ayder Asanov's health or the conditions of his detention. Meanwhile, Crimean Solidarity, CrimeaSOS, ZMINA, and the Crimean Tatar Resource Center regularly emphasize that most Crimean political prisoners in Russian colonies face inadequate medical care, psychological pressure, restrictions on the right to freedom of religion, and other violations of fundamental human rights.

As of July 2026, Ayder Asanov continues to be unlawfully held in detention facilities in the Russian Federation. His name is included in the lists of Ukrainian citizens unlawfully detained by Russia for political reasons. Ukrainian human rights organizations and state institutions continue to demand his release and emphasize that the persecution of Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea remains one of the most widespread forms of political repression.

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

Photo: Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Date updated: 05.07.2026.