Detention: On July 25, 2023, Russian security forces detained Eskender Serverovich Audji in the village of Novooleksiivka, Henichesk district, Kherson region, which was under Russian military control at the time. After his detention, he was taken to occupied Crimea, where a criminal case was initiated under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in an illegal armed formation'). Russian investigators claimed he was allegedly a member of the Noman Çelebicihan volunteer battalion. Eskender denied these charges. Ukrainian human rights defenders emphasized that the case is politically motivated and exemplifies the application of Russian criminal law to Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories.

Sentence: On December 12, 2023, the occupation Henichesk district court of Kherson region found Eskender Audji guilty and sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months in a general regime penal colony. The human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' recognized him as a political prisoner, noting that the charges were not supported by proper evidence and that the prosecution contradicts international law.

Eskender Serverovich Audji was born on February 22, 1988. He is a Crimean Tatar from the village of Semikhatka, Henichesk district, Kherson region. Before his detention, he led a normal life, working, supporting his family, and raising a young child. There is little information available about his profession or public activities, as his family tries to keep personal details private due to risks to relatives remaining in occupied territory.

After the full-scale war began, Eskender remained in Kherson region. On July 25, 2023, he was detained by Russian security forces. According to human rights defenders, the detention occurred without any legal procedures. He was then taken to occupied Crimea, where a criminal case was opened against him. The investigation claimed he was allegedly a member of the Noman Çelebicihan battalion, which Russia considers an illegal armed formation. Eskender did not admit guilt, and human rights defenders noted that the charges lacked evidence of his participation in any combat or use of weapons.

After his detention, Eskender Audji was held in custody in the temporarily occupied territory. The trial lasted only a few months. Human rights defenders stated that the court essentially fully supported the investigation's position, without properly evaluating the defense's arguments. This case is another example of using Russian criminal law to persecute Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories.

On December 12, 2023, the occupation Henichesk district court issued a guilty verdict — 3 years and 6 months in a general regime penal colony. After the sentence became legally binding, Eskender was transferred to serve his sentence. There is currently no reliable information in open sources about the specific facility to which he was transferred.

Human rights defenders emphasize that cases related to alleged participation in the Noman Çelebicihan battalion have become a tool for persecuting Crimean Tatars and other Ukrainian citizens after Crimea's occupation. Russian authorities use the article on participation in an illegal armed formation even against people for whom there is no evidence of participation in combat or use of weapons. Therefore, Ukrainian human rights organizations consider such cases politically motivated.

After analyzing the case materials, the human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' recognized Eskender Audji as a political prisoner. Experts noted that merely being near the administrative border or possible contacts with participants of the Crimean blockade cannot be considered sufficient grounds for criminal prosecution. Additionally, they pointed out that Russia has no right to extend its criminal law to occupied Ukrainian territories contrary to international humanitarian law.

Due to Eskender's family remaining in occupied territory, there is very little information available about his current health condition or detention conditions. Human rights defenders deliberately do not disclose certain details to avoid additional risks for his relatives.

As of July 5, 2026, Eskender Audji continues to serve the sentence unlawfully imposed on him. Ukrainian human rights defenders include him in the lists of Ukrainian citizens unlawfully imprisoned by Russia for political reasons and urge the international community to seek their release.

Information used from open sources: CrimeaSOS, Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukrinform, Human Rights Project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial'

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

Update date: 07/05/2026