Detention: On September 3–4, 2021, five Crimean Tatars were arrested. Initially, only Asan and Aziz Akhtemov were suspects in the 'sabotage' of the 'Krymgazmerezhi' gas pipeline, while Nariman Dzhelyalov was a witness and not mentioned in the case initiation order. He became a suspect after testimony from a concealed witness, who appeared on the day of the arrest. On September 4, 2021, Dzhelyalov was detained at his home in the village of Pervomaiske, Simferopol district. After arrest, he was placed in the 'special block' of the Simferopol pre-trial detention centre under strict conditions: more frequent cell inspections, separate walks and medical visits, constant video surveillance.

Sentence: The charges were progressively intensified: in late September and November 2021, the FSB reclassified Dzhelyalov's charge from 'aiding' to 'participation in sabotage as part of an organized group,' adding illegal acquisition, storage, and transportation of explosive devices and illegal transfer of explosives across the border. On September 21, 2022, the Russian-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea sentenced Nariman Dzhelyalov to 17 years of imprisonment, a fine of 700,000 rubles, and 1.5 years of restricted freedom after serving the main term. In July 2023, the Third Court of Appeal in Sochi upheld the sentence, specifying that Dzhelyalov must serve the first three years in a high-security prison. During the sentencing, he wore a T-shirt with the inscription 'Two flags — one country.'

On June 28, 2024, Nariman Dzhelyalov was released as part of an exchange of ten Ukrainian civilians between Ukraine and Russia.

Nariman Enverovich Dzhelyalov was born on April 27, 1980, in Navoi, Uzbekistan. Four years later, his family moved to the Crimean Peninsula, to Dzhankoy. In 2005, he graduated from Odessa National University with a degree in Political Science. He worked as a correspondent for the newspaper 'Avdet,' a host and news editor on the ATR TV channel (2011–2014), and taught history and law at the Simferopol International School. In 2012, he ran for the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as an independent candidate. From November 2013, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and from March 2015, as First Deputy. After 2014, he remained the highest-ranking Mejlis official directly in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the de facto leader of the organization, regularly informing global media about the situation of the Crimean Tatar people under occupation. In late August 2021, he participated in the first 'Crimean Platform' summit in Kyiv and was detained immediately upon returning to the temporarily occupied Crimean Peninsula.

At the time of his arrest, Nariman Dzhelyalov was the father of four children. During the search, all of them were at home, and his youngest daughter, Nial, was not yet one year old; she celebrated her first birthday twenty days after her father's arrest. From the start of his imprisonment, the family was deprived of the opportunity to live together, and the children grew up without their father for nearly three years. The conditions of imprisonment were harsh. After sentencing, he was transferred to Simferopol pre-trial detention centre No. 2, where a strict regime was applied: prisoners had to stand for 16 hours a day (from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) — sitting or lying down was prohibited. This resulted in varicose veins in both legs and exacerbation of chronic back problems. He was not given medication for back pain, and his requests were mocked by the medical staff. In October 2023, Dzhelyalov was transferred to a prison in Minusinsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, where those convicted of particularly serious crimes are held. For a month after the transfer, his family did not know his whereabouts.

While imprisoned, Nariman Dzhelyalov wrote analytical articles about the situation in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea. After his release on June 28, 2024, he returned to Ukraine and stated, 'I will make every effort to ensure that everyone else is also freed.' The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine stated that there was no information about a pardon request to Putin. He was awarded the Order of Merit, III degree. The case was recognized with the Czech human rights award People in Need.

In December 2024, the President of Ukraine appointed Nariman Dzhelyalov as Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey.

Photo: Krym.Realii.

Information used from open sources: Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, Crimean Solidarity, Suspilne Crimea, Detector Media, Radio Liberty, NSJU, Graty.

Date of update: 03.07.2026.