Detention: In 2019, the FSB of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case against journalist Gulsum Khalilova, accusing her of participating in the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan. The occupation 'Kyiv District Court of Simferopol' issued an arrest warrant in absentia, placing her on federal and international wanted lists. She is charged under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('participation in an illegal armed formation').

Sentence: As of July 30, 2026, there is no information in open independent sources about a conviction against Gulsum Khalilova. The Russian Federation continues her criminal prosecution in absentia. In January 2025, Rosfinmonitoring added the journalist to the list of 'extremists and terrorists'.

Khalilova Gulsum Khalilovna was born on July 19, 1995. She is a Crimean Tatar journalist, TV presenter, and editor-in-chief of the ATR channel. She received her higher education in Ukraine. After the Russian occupation authorities effectively forced ATR to cease broadcasting in Crimea in 2015, Gulsum moved to Kyiv with the editorial team to continue her professional activities. She is unmarried.

Following the occupation of Crimea, Gulsum Khalilova reported on human rights violations on the peninsula, the activities of the Crimean Tatar national movement, and the civil blockade of Crimea. Her journalistic work became the basis for criminal prosecution. According to the Russian investigation, she allegedly provided informational support to the Noman Çelebicihan battalion. The journalist has repeatedly stated that she was merely fulfilling her professional duties and covering socially important events.

After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Gulsum Khalilova became one of the most well-known Crimean Tatar journalists. She regularly informs the international audience about Russian aggression, the situation in occupied Crimea, and the persecution of Crimean Tatars.

On the night of October 28, 2022, Turkish law enforcement detained ATR Crimean Tatar channel journalist Gulsum Khalilova at the request of Russian special services. This was reported by ATR deputy general director Ayder Muzhdabaev on Facebook. 'As understood from various sources, the detention was carried out according to a Russian request within the framework of Interpol. Currently, Gulsum Khalilova has been released and allowed to enter Turkey,' reported Refat Chubarov, leader of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people. In a comment to 'Ukrainska Pravda,' Khalilova stated that she was held for 17 hours at Russia's request.
In 2022, she received the 'Journalist of the Year' international award from the Global Council of Journalists in Turkey.
In April 2025, Russian security forces searched her parents' house in the village of Zemlyanychne, Bilohirsk district, Crimea. After the search, the journalist's 74-year-old father was hospitalized due to a sharp deterioration in health. According to Gulsum Khalilova, the security forces found nothing but used the search as another way to pressure her family. Human rights defenders view such actions as a form of persecution of journalists for their professional activities.

In February 2025, during a massive Russian missile strike on Kyiv, the ATR channel's editorial office was destroyed. Gulsum Khalilova stated that this strike was another attempt by Russia to destroy an independent Crimean Tatar media voice that continues to tell the world the truth about the occupation of Crimea and Russia's crimes.

As of July 30, 2026, Gulsum Khalilova continues to work as editor-in-chief of the ATR channel and remains outside occupied Crimea. The Russian Federation continues her politically motivated criminal prosecution in absentia. Independent human rights organizations consider this case as persecution of the journalist for her professional activities and pro-Ukrainian stance.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Suspilne News, Center for Journalistic Investigations, Krym Realii, Graty.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Date updated: 21.10.2026.