Detention: On March 5, 2024, officers of the Russian Federal Security Service illegally detained Anatoliy Kobzar. After his detention, he was completely isolated from the outside world.

Sentence: As of July 19, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Anatoliy Kobzar remains in custody at Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 2 in Simferopol (Akmesdzhit). The Russian Federation accuses him under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('state treason'). The article prescribes a penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment. Human rights organizations consider the prosecution politically motivated.

Anatoliy Oleksandrovych Kobzar was born in 1980. He is a Ukrainian citizen and a resident of the Bakhchysarai district in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. There is no verified information available in open sources about his education, professional activities, or marital status.

On March 5, 2024, officers of the Russian Federal Security Service illegally detained Anatoliy Kobzar. After his detention, he was completely isolated from the outside world. For over a year and a half, his relatives did not know his whereabouts, could not communicate with him, and received no official information about his procedural status. Only after the family's appeal to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center were human rights defenders able to determine his location.

According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, after his detention, Anatoliy was held in special FSB blocks, later transferred to Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 8, and subsequently to Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 2 in Simferopol, where he remains. Only in 2025–2026 did the family receive confirmation that he was alive and under investigation for 'state treason.'

In February 2026, the head of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Eskender Bariiev, reported that during one of the so-called 'enhanced interrogations' in January 2026, FSB officers used physical violence against Anatoliy Kobzar. According to available information, his left arm was broken with a displaced wrist, and necessary medical assistance was delayed, resulting in improper bone healing. Human rights defenders classify these actions as torture.

Subsequently, the political prisoner's health continued to deteriorate. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, in addition to the fracture's consequences, he developed serious heart problems, leg diseases, a ruptured eardrum, dental complications, and was diagnosed with Meniere's disease—a chronic inner ear condition causing dizziness, balance issues, and hearing loss. Despite numerous appeals, he does not receive adequate medical care.

In February 2026, Anatoliy Kobzar was brought to a Russian-controlled court in Sevastopol, where his detention was extended for another two months. Further investigative actions were conducted, and he began reviewing the criminal case materials. At this time, the detention center administration prohibits family visits, complicating oversight of his detention conditions.

As of July 19, 2026, the trial is ongoing, and there is no public information about a verdict.

Information sourced from: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Suspilne Crimea, Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Last updated: 19.07.2026.