Detention: In the occupied part of Kherson region at the 'Chonhar' checkpoint in September 2024, Russian security forces detained 33-year-old Ukrainian citizen, resident of Novodmytrivka village, Henichesk district, Asan Bay.

Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, there is no verdict in the case. Asan Bay remains in custody, and the Russian side is conducting a pre-trial investigation. He is accused of participating in the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation. Human rights defenders emphasize that the persecution has political characteristics.

Asan Sadriyovych Bay was born on October 25, 1990. He is a native and resident of Novodmytrivka village, Henichesk district, Kherson region. Before his detention, he led an ordinary civilian life, working and living with his family. He is married and has two young children.

According to acquaintances and human rights defenders, Asan Bay was never a public activist, nor did he participate in protests, political campaigns, or paramilitary activities. Those who know him describe him as a calm, hardworking, and non-confrontational person focused on his family and work. His detention was unexpected for both his family and the local community.

In September 2024, Asan Bay was detained by Russian security forces at the 'Chonhar' checkpoint. After his detention, he was placed in a pre-trial detention centre. The Russian side claimed that he was allegedly a member of the Crimean Tatar battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan. However, no public evidence supporting these accusations has been presented.

After his arrest, communication with his family was significantly restricted. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, the occupation administration prohibited his relatives from publicly discussing the detention and case circumstances. Human rights defenders state that such practices are common methods of psychological pressure on the families of unlawfully detained Ukrainian citizens.

In the spring of 2025, information about the case became public after it was reported by Ukrainian human rights organizations and media. The Crimean Tatar Resource Center highlighted that for over seven months, the man has been in a pre-trial detention centre without a public trial. The organization stated that the persecution appears politically motivated and called on the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to stop unlawful detentions of Ukrainian citizens.

According to open data from the human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial', as of 2026, Asan Bay is held in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Kherson region, and the criminal proceedings are at the pre-trial investigation stage. There is no information in open sources about the case being transferred to court or a verdict being issued.

Ukrainian human rights organizations view Asan Bay's case as another example of the persecution of residents of temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine on fabricated charges. They emphasize that accusations of involvement in the battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan are regularly used by Russian security forces as a basis for criminal prosecution of Ukrainian citizens, despite the lack of convincing evidence of their involvement in any illegal activities.

Human rights defenders call for adherence to international humanitarian law and the release of all unlawfully detained Ukrainian citizens.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Suspilne Crimea, Human Rights Project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial'.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Update date: 17.07.2026.