Detention: On February 15, 2021, FSB officers detained Nina (Latifa) Malakhova on suspicion of 'facilitating terrorist activities.' After a search, she was taken into custody and placed in a pre-trial detention centre. Russian investigators claimed that between 2015 and 2018, she allegedly collected charitable donations that were later used by individuals associated with the organization 'Islamic State.' The defense and human rights advocates insisted that the funds were intended to help families in difficult life circumstances, and no evidence of intentional financing of terrorist activities was presented.

Sentence: On July 7, 2021, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Nina (Latifa) Malakhova guilty under part 1.1 of Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code ('facilitating terrorist activities') and sentenced her to 4 years and 6 months in a general regime colony. After the appeal, the sentence remained unchanged. On October 13, 2025, after serving the full term, Latifa Malakhova was released from the colony and returned to occupied Crimea. After her release, administrative restrictions remained in place for one year.

Malakhova Nina, also known as Latifa Malakhova, is a Ukrainian citizen and resident of Simferopol. After converting to Islam, she uses the name Latifa. She is raising a daughter. There is no reliable information in open sources about her date of birth, education, or professional activities.

On February 15, 2021, Crimean Muslim Latifa (Nina) Malakhova was detained in Kazan along with her husband Ruzil Yapparov. The couple, along with their newborn daughter Melissa, was flown to Crimea by FSB officers. According to the investigation, she collected charitable funds through social networks and transferred them to individuals believed by Russian law enforcement to be connected to a banned organization. Human rights advocates noted that the case materials did not contain evidence of her intent to finance terrorist activities, and the case raised doubts about compliance with fair trial standards.

On July 7, 2021, the court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Latifa Malakhova to four years and six months in a general regime colony. She served her sentence in Correctional Colony No. 3 in the Krasnodar region. Throughout her imprisonment, Crimean Tatar human rights defenders and community activists regularly reported on her situation and maintained contact with her family.

On October 13, 2025, Latifa Malakhova was released after serving her full sentence. Upon returning to Simferopol, she resides with her daughter. Meanwhile, for a year after her release, she is subject to administrative restrictions imposed by Russian law, including travel limitations and the obligation to regularly report to controlling authorities.

Information used from open sources: Crimean Solidarity, Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation (via open reports), Suspilne Crimea, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, ZMINA, Krym.Realii.

Photo: ZMINA.

Date updated: 26.07.2026.