Detention: On October 12, 2017, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Bakhchisarai. Following the search, citizen journalist and volunteer Marlen (Suleyman) Asanov was detained. Along with him, Timur Ibragimov, Memet Belyalov, Seyran Saliev, Server Zekiryaev, and Ernes Ametov were also detained. They were all charged with involvement in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as terrorist, although it is not banned in Ukraine. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations stated that the criminal prosecution is politically motivated and linked to Marlen Asanov's active civic engagement and his participation in the initiative 'Crimean Solidarity'.

Sentence: On September 16, 2020, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Marlen Asanov guilty under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('organization of the activities of a terrorist organization') and sentenced him to 19 years of imprisonment. The first five years are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict-regime colony. On February 16, 2022, the Military Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. Human rights defenders noted that the court did not provide any evidence of Asanov's involvement in terrorist activities, and the charges were based on religious discussions, expert assessments, and anonymous testimonies.

Marlen Asanov, who later took the name Suleyman, was born on March 2, 1977, in Bekabad, Uzbekistan. His family, like thousands of other Crimean Tatar families, lived in exile following the 1944 deportation. Marlen (Suleyman) Asanov was born on March 2, 1977, in Bekabad, Uzbek SSR. He was given the name Marlen at birth, which he later changed to Suleyman. In the 1980s, his family returned to Crimea after a long forced exile due to the illegal deportation of the Crimean Tatar people by the Soviet totalitarian regime in 1944.

In 1994, Marlen graduated from Golubinskaya Secondary School in the Bakhchisarai district and then entered the V. I. Vernadsky Taurida National University. In 1999, he obtained a higher education degree in 'Philology' and 'Teacher of Turkish and Crimean Tatar Languages and Literature'. As a student, he actively participated in scientific conferences and language competitions, earning the respect of peers and teachers.

Alongside his studies, in 1998, he completed a training program at the 'Krymtur' training center and received a third-class tour guide certificate.

From 1999 to 2003, he worked as a teacher of Crimean Tatar language and literature at his alma mater, Golubinskaya School. He applied modern teaching methods, organized public lessons and extracurricular activities, and promoted Crimean Tatar history. In 2002, he received the 'Teacher of the Year' award.

Suleyman Asanov was deeply involved in preserving Crimean Tatar culture. In 2000, he received a certificate from the Union for the Promotion of Rural Green Tourism Development in Crimea and founded the cultural and ethnographic center 'Kokhoz'. In 2002, he opened the caravanserai 'Salachik' — a space recreating the atmosphere of a traditional hospitable stop, deeply rooted in Crimean Tatar history.

In 2014, Marlen became increasingly involved in civic activities. He assisted the families of political prisoners, attended politically motivated court hearings, broadcasted searches and court sessions, and became one of the citizen journalists and volunteers of 'Crimean Solidarity'. Thanks to his work, information about the repression against Crimean Tatars became known in Ukraine and beyond.

After the occupation of Crimea, Marlen Asanov became one of the most well-known citizen journalists on the peninsula. He covered searches, detentions, and court hearings in cases involving Crimean Tatars, helped the families of political prisoners, and was an active participant in the public association 'Crimean Solidarity'. His cultural center 'Salachik' became a gathering place for activists, volunteers, and families of the unlawfully imprisoned. Due to this open civic stance, human rights defenders believe he came under the scrutiny of Russian security forces.

On May 12, 2016, the occupation administration conducted illegal searches in Salachik. That day, four residents of Bakhchisarai were detained on fabricated 'terrorism' charges. Although Suleyman Asanov was not detained, he was fined 5000 rubles for allegedly 'disturbing public order'. Despite this, he intensified his civic activities.

Eventually, in 2018, the caravanserai Salachik was closed by the decision of the occupation 'court'.

On October 12, 2017, FSB officers conducted extensive searches in Bakhchisarai. Security forces came to Marlen Asanov's house early in the morning. After the search, he was detained and sent to a pre-trial detention center. Along with him, five other Crimean Tatars were detained. They were all charged with involvement in the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir'. As in many other similar cases, the charges were based on covert audio recordings of religious conversations, expert conclusions, and anonymous witness testimonies. No evidence was presented to the court that Marlen planned or committed violent acts.

Human rights organizations ZMINA, Crimean Solidarity, CrimeaSOS, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, the Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, as well as international organizations have repeatedly stated that the case against Marlen Asanov is politically motivated. They emphasized that Russia uses anti-terrorism legislation as a tool to combat independent journalism and civic activism in occupied Crimea.

On September 16, 2020, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Marlen Asanov to 19 years of imprisonment. The first five years are to be served in prison, followed by a strict-regime colony. On March 14, 2022, the appellate court upheld this sentence. Shortly thereafter, he was transferred to Russia. Human rights defenders noted that the transfer of Crimean political prisoners from the occupied Crimea to Russian colonies violates international humanitarian law and significantly complicates contact with family.

In September 2022, he was unlawfully transferred from a Russian pre-trial detention center to Correctional Colony No. 7 in the village of Sosnovka, Republic of Mordovia, Russian Federation, located over 1000 km from his native Crimea.

On August 9, 2024, the occupation 'court' rejected his request for transfer to a facility closer to Crimea.

During his imprisonment, Marlen repeatedly reported deteriorating health and harsh detention conditions. Despite this, he continued to maintain contact with his family through correspondence. While in detention, he took the name Suleyman, and it is under this name that he is often referred to by human rights organizations and close ones today.

As of July 5, 2026, Suleyman (Marlen) Asanov continues to serve an unlawful sentence in the Russian Federation. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations demand his release, emphasizing that he was deprived of liberty due to his civic stance, journalistic activities, and support for the Crimean Tatar community.

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

Photo: Crimean Solidarity.

Date updated: 05.07.2026.