Detention: August 24, 2023, Bakhchisaray district, temporarily occupied Crimea. On this day, Russian security forces conducted searches in the homes of six Crimean Tatar activists, including Ruslan Asanov. After the search, he was detained and taken to the occupation Kyiv District Court of Simferopol. On August 24, the court ordered his detention. Asanov was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code, and later under Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code, allegedly for preparing to seize power by force. The case became part of the so-called 'fifth Bakhchisaray group' in the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case.

Sentence: As of September 6, 2026, Ruslan Asanov remains in custody, and his case is being heard by the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. In 2026, the court continued to hear the case and considered defense motions; on June 15, 2026, the defense filed 52 motions in court.

Ruslan Remzievich Asanov was born on February 18, 1975. He is a resident of Bakhchisaray, a Ukrainian citizen, and a Crimean Tatar. Before his detention, he worked as a builder and was an activist.

Ruslan Asanov was an active participant in the public life of Bakhchisaray and supported other Crimean Tatars who faced persecution by the Russian occupation authorities. Along with other activists, he attended court hearings in the cases of Crimean political prisoners and participated in peaceful solidarity actions. According to human rights defenders, he and other defendants were repeatedly detained for participating in such actions before the criminal prosecution.

Ruslan Asanov is married. His wife is Zera Mustafayeva. According to human rights sources, Asanov is the father of a large family. Before his arrest, he continued to work and support his family.

On August 24, 2023, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of six Crimean Tatar activists in the Bakhchisaray district. Among those detained were Ruslan Asanov, Seydamet Mustafayev, Eldar Yakubov, Abdulmedzhit Seytumerov, Amethan Umerov, and Remzi Nimetulaev. This group was later named the 'fifth Bakhchisaray group' in the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case.

On the same day, Ruslan Asanov and other detainees were taken to the occupation Kyiv District Court of Simferopol. The court ordered their detention. Asanov was charged with organizing the activities of a 'terrorist organization' under Russian law. All detainees denied their guilt.

After his arrest, Asanov was placed in a pre-trial detention centre. By September 2023, health issues were reported: he was brought to the detention centre with an abscess, and the illness, according to his wife, progressed rapidly. The family tried to send him medication, including antibiotics.

Subsequently, the case was transferred to the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. Court hearings in the case have been ongoing since 2024. In January 2025, Ruslan Asanov and other defendants challenged the entire panel of judges, citing a prosecutorial bias. The defense also repeatedly questioned the prosecution's evidence.

In 2025–2026, the court repeatedly extended Ruslan Asanov's detention. In February 2026, the detention of six defendants in the 'fifth Bakhchisaray group' was extended until May 23, and in July 2026, until October 14, 2026. The defense objected to the extension of the detention and emphasized the lack of sufficient grounds for continued detention in the pre-trial detention centre.

During the trial, the defense continued to present evidence of the defendants' innocence. In 2026, the court questioned defense witnesses and considered the lawyers' motions. As of the latest available data, the trial has not concluded.

During his imprisonment, Ruslan Asanov's health deteriorated. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, his vision worsened, and he developed dental problems. Additionally, the occupation authorities restricted his communication with his family: short visits were not allowed, phone calls were absent, and the family did not receive replies to letters.

At the beginning of 2026, Asanov was held in pre-trial detention centre No. 5 in Rostov-on-Don, where he remained during the trial.

As of September 6, 2026, Ruslan Asanov remains in custody in Russia. No verdict has been issued, and the trial continues.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Suspilne Crimea.

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 06.09.2026.