Detention: On June 10, 2019, Russian security forces conducted extensive searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Bilohirsk and detained Aider Djepparov along with several other activists. Russian authorities accused him of participating in the activities of the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as a terrorist organization, although it is not banned in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. According to human rights defenders, no weapons, explosives, or other evidence of preparation for violent acts were found during the searches, and the charges were primarily based on covert audio recordings of conversations, religious studies, and testimonies from anonymous witnesses.

Sentence: On January 12, 2021, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Aider Djepparov guilty and sentenced him to 17 years of imprisonment, with the first 5 years to be served in prison and the remainder in a high-security penal colony. The court also imposed further restrictions on his freedom after release. In 2024, Aider was transferred from the Chelyabinsk region to a correctional facility in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia, further complicating contact with his family.

Aider Enverovich Djepparov was born on July 20, 1980, a citizen of Ukraine, Crimean Tatar, and resident of Bilohirsk (temporarily occupied Crimea). From 1998 to 2000, he studied at a seminary and then for three years at Al-Jinan University in Lebanon, majoring in Arabic language and literature.

Djepparov worked as a service engineer and installer on various small and large private projects. Additionally, he was involved in human rights activities. Until his arrest, he attended trials of Muslim political prisoners in Crimea. He organized Quran reading lessons for children and adults, participated in the construction and thermal equipment of mosques, and organized and filmed religious celebrations.

Before his detention, Aider Djepparov lived with his wife and children. His family repeatedly reported a deterioration in his health while in pre-trial detention and imprisonment.

In 2015, two police officers broke into Djepparov's house, where only his wife and their young children were present. A year before his arrest, he was under constant surveillance. Djepparov was arrested on June 10, 2019, in the town of Bilohirsk, in the village of Zuya, Bilohirsk district, after searches and subsequent detentions in the homes of three other Crimean Tatars.

In 2020, lawyers reported a purulent staphylococcal infection on his finger and a lack of adequate medical care. Human rights defenders emphasize that prolonged detention in harsh conditions negatively affects his health.

During the trial, the defense repeatedly stated the lack of evidence linking Aider Djepparov to any terrorist activities. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations note that the case is part of a systemic campaign of persecution against Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea.

During the case review, the defense repeatedly pointed out to the court the absence of evidence of Aider Djepparov preparing or committing any violent acts. The charges were primarily based on covert audio recordings of religious discussions, expert conclusions, and testimonies from anonymous witnesses whose identities were not disclosed. Human rights defenders emphasize that such practices are typical for most Crimean cases related to accusations of involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir.

After being transferred to a correctional facility thousands of kilometers from Crimea, Aider Djepparov's family faced additional difficulties in maintaining contact with him. Human rights defenders stress that the transfer of Ukrainian political prisoners to the territory of the Russian Federation violates international humanitarian law, particularly the Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of civilian populations from occupied territories.

As of July 9, 2026, Aider Djepparov continues to serve his sentence unlawfully in a facility of the Federal Penitentiary Service of the Russian Federation.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR).

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 09.07.2026.