Detention: Emir was detained on February 5, 2025. According to his sister, some literature was 'planted' during a search. He was taken into custody the same day, accused of participating in the activities of a terrorist organization.

Sentence: As of July 19, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Emir Kurtnezirov remains in custody. The Russian Federation accuses him under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization'), alleging involvement with the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is legal in Ukraine but banned in Russia. Human rights defenders consider the case politically motivated.

Emir Remziyevich Kurtnezirov was born on May 22, 1994. He lived in the temporarily occupied Crimea and worked as an agronomist. He is the son of Remzi Kurtnezirov, a former imam of a mosque in the village of Lobanovo, Dzhankoy district, and a Crimean political prisoner also prosecuted by Russia in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case.

On February 5, 2025, Russian security forces conducted a series of mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Dzhankoy district of Crimea. During this operation, Emir Kurtnezirov and several other Crimean Tatars were detained and grouped by the occupying authorities into the so-called 'fourth Dzhankoy group of the Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' Emir was taken into custody the same day.

According to his sister, Russian security forces planted religious literature during the search, which was later used as part of the charges. The family and human rights defenders categorically deny Emir's involvement in any illegal activities and emphasize that the case bears all the hallmarks of political persecution of Crimean Tatars for their religious beliefs and civic stance.

After his arrest, Emir was held in Simferopol pre-trial detention centre No. 2. Later, he and other defendants were illegally transferred from the occupied Crimea to the Russian Federation. Relatives learned of the transfer only when they attempted to send him food. He is currently in pre-trial detention centre No. 3 in the Rostov region. Human rights defenders stress that the transfer of civilians from the occupied territory of Ukraine to the territory of the occupying state violates international humanitarian law.

The Russian investigation accuses Emir Kurtnezirov solely of participating in the activities of the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. No open evidence of preparation for violent acts or the commission of any crimes has been disclosed. As in many other Crimean 'Hizb ut-Tahrir cases,' the charges are primarily based on covert investigation materials, religious literature, and expert conclusions, which have been repeatedly criticized by international human rights organizations.

The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea has included Emir Kurtnezirov in the list of Ukrainian political prisoners. Ukrainian human rights organizations continue to document his case as an example of systemic repression against Crimean Tatars on the temporarily occupied peninsula. As of July 19, 2026, there is no information in open sources about the completion of the trial or the issuance of a sentence.

Information used from open sources: Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Suspilne Crimea, Crimean Solidarity, Human Rights Project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial.'

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Date of update: 19.07.2026.