Detention: In 2023, Huseyn Huseynov was detained by Russian security forces and charged under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('participation in an illegal armed formation'). According to the investigation, he was allegedly involved with a battalion considered illegal by Russia. Huseynov denied the charges.

Sentence: On September 26, 2024, a Russian court found Huseyn Huseynov guilty and sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months in a high-security penal colony, with 1 year in prison and the remainder in a correctional colony. Human rights advocates emphasize that criminal cases related to alleged participation in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion have become a common tool for persecuting Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories.

Huseyn Museib oglu Huseynov was born on February 19, 1959, in Azerbaijan, but lived for a long time in Henichesk, Kherson region, where he had a family and permanent residence. After the region's occupation, he remained in the occupied territory.

Human rights defenders note that cases under the article on participation in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion often rely on limited evidence, and trials violate fair trial standards. They believe that the criminal prosecution of Huseyn Huseynov is part of a broader campaign of pressure on residents of Ukraine's occupied territories.

During the trial, the Russian side claimed that Huseyn Huseynov was allegedly a member of the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion and engaged in activities for this formation. Meanwhile, independent human rights defenders emphasize that there is no evidence in the public domain of his participation in combat or violent crimes. They argue that the prosecution is based on politically motivated application of Russian law to a Ukrainian citizen residing in a temporarily occupied territory.

As of July 9, 2026, Huseyn Huseynov remains unlawfully detained in facilities controlled by the Russian Federation. Human rights defenders continue to demand his release and urge the international community to increase attention to the cases of Ukrainian citizens convicted on politically motivated charges.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, ZMINA, Media Initiative for Human Rights (MIHR), Center for Investigative Journalism.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Update date: 09.07.2026.