Detention: On August 17, 2021, in the village of Strohanivka, Simferopol district of occupied Crimea, Russian security forces searched Raif Fevziev's home and detained him. On the same day, four other Crimean Tatars — Dzhabbar Bekirov, Rustem Murasov, Rustem Tairov, and Zaur Abdullaev — were also detained in Crimea. Human rights organizations view these detentions as politically motivated persecution of Crimean Tatars and Muslims.

Sentence: On January 12, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Raif Fevziev to 17 years in prison. He was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code. The first three years of the sentence were to be served in prison, the remainder in a strict regime colony. After release, the court imposed a restriction of freedom for one year and six months. The Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld the sentence.

Raif Fevziev was born on June 16, 1980. He is a Crimean Tatar, native and resident of the village of Strohanivka, Simferopol district of Crimea. Fevziev graduated from a Muslim madrasa and was a religious leader — the imam of the local Muslim community. He is married and has three children.

Before his arrest, Fevziev was a civic activist, attended court hearings in politically motivated cases, supported the families of Crimean political prisoners, and advocated for their rights.

On August 17, 2021, Russian security forces came to Fevziev's house. He was accused of organizing the activities of a Hizb ut-Tahrir cell and preparing for a violent seizure of power. The charges were based on the testimony of two secret witnesses and an audio recording of a conversation from December 11, 2015. According to the case materials, the recording discussed religious issues and fragments of Islamic literature.

Fevziev's defense denied the charges. Lawyer Edem Semedlyaev highlighted issues with the evidence base, particularly the testimony of secret witnesses. During the trial, questions also arose regarding the phonographic examination, where Fevziev's surname was misspelled.

The criminal prosecution is linked to his religious beliefs, civic activities, and affiliation with the Crimean Tatar people.

After sentencing, Fevziev was held in the Russian penal system. In December 2024, he was transferred from Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 3 in Novocherkassk, Rostov region. In June 2025, it became known that he was held in Correctional Colony No. 6 in Yeniseisk, Krasnoyarsk Krai.

In 2025, human rights activists reported a deterioration in Fevziev's health. Specifically, there were mentions of worsening varicose veins, knee joint pain, dental issues, and limited access to medical care. According to his wife, treatment largely depended on medications sent by relatives.

On June 14, 2025, his wife Liana Fevzieva was able to visit him in the colony for the first time in four years. On June 16, Raif's birthday, his three children — Abdullah, Ismail, and Derya — also visited him. This was Fevziev's first personal meeting with his children since his arrest in 2021.

As of September 13, 2026, Raif Fevziev remains imprisoned in Russia. Human rights organizations demand his release and an end to the politically motivated persecution of Crimean Tatars.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, CrimeaSOS, Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, Suspilne Crimea, Ukrainska Pravda.

Photo: ZMINA.

Date updated: 13.09.2026.