Arrest: On February 1, 2018, approximately 20 Russian security officers, accompanied by witnesses, conducted a search at Yevhen Karakashev's home in Yevpatoria. The reason was two videos—'Untitled' and 'The Last Interview of the Primorsky Partisans'—posted publicly on his VKontakte page in 2014–2015. Karakashev does not recall attaching these videos. Additionally, messages in a closed VKontakte group were included in the case. Karakashev believes the case was fabricated due to his activist activities, particularly his participation in a protest against the development of a resort area near a salt lake in Yevpatoria.

Sentence: On April 19, 2019, the North Caucasus District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Yevhen Karakashev to 6 years in a general regime colony under part 2 of article 205.2 of the Russian Criminal Code ('public calls for terrorism'). The charge of inciting hatred and enmity (part 1 of article 282) was dropped following partial decriminalization. On August 15, 2020, the Supreme Court of Russia upheld the sentence. He initially served his sentence in Correctional Colony No. 3, then in Correctional Colony No. 1 in Kabardino-Balkaria (village of Kamenka, Chegemsky district). In November 2022, he was transferred to Balashov Prison in Saratov Oblast. On February 1, 2024, after serving the full six-year term, Yevhen Karakashev was released.

Yevhen Vitaliyovych Karakashev was born on August 21, 1978, in Yevpatoria. He graduated from a medical college and Tavrida National V.I. Vernadsky University in Simferopol. After his studies, he returned to Yevpatoria and worked at a sanatorium, rehabilitating children with cerebral palsy. He participated in a protest near the FSB building in Simferopol and planned to hold a protest 'against police arbitrariness in Crimea' in Yevpatoria, which was banned by authorities. Following this, he faced operational pressure.

The conditions of imprisonment were harsh. He spent almost the entire term in Correctional Colony No. 1 in Kabardino-Balkaria in a single-cell type facility as a 'malicious violator of order,' accumulating 51 disciplinary penalties. In November 2020, it was reported that the court placed him in a single-cell type facility for a year—the strictest form of isolation in Russia. After his transfer to Balashov Prison in Saratov Oblast, he was placed under supervision for 8 years: travel ban and mandatory appearances twice a month.

In 2022, the administration attempted to open a new case against him for 'discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.'

After his release on February 1, 2024, Karakashev faced post-penitentiary restrictions.

Information used from open sources: Union of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Suspilne Crimea, Radio Liberty (Crimea.Realii), Graty.

Photo: Union of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners.

Update date: 03.07.2026.