Detention: On the night of March 21-22, 2025, Russian security forces conducted a series of simultaneous searches in Yevpatoria at several addresses. During this operation, four members of one family were detained: Tetiana Maliar, her brother Valentyn Maliar, Tetiana's son Anatolii Rossikhin, and daughter Olha Behei.

Sentence: As of July 19, 2026, no sentence is available in open sources. Valentyn Maliar remains in custody. The Russian Federation accuses him under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('state treason'). Human rights defenders consider the case politically motivated.

Valentyn Leonidovych Maliar was born in 1974. He is a native of Lviv. Before the occupation of Crimea, he moved with his family to Yevpatoria, where he lived for many years. There is no confirmed information about his profession or public activities in open sources.

On the night of March 21-22, 2025, Russian security forces conducted a series of simultaneous searches in Yevpatoria at several addresses. During this operation, four members of one family were detained: Tetiana Maliar, her brother Valentyn Maliar, Tetiana's son Anatolii Rossikhin, and daughter Olha Behei. After their detention, their whereabouts were concealed from relatives for over a week. It was later revealed that all detainees were held in pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Simferopol.

According to Refat Chubarov, head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, the family had no contact with the outside world in the initial days following their detention. Human rights defenders note that such practices are typical of Russian security forces in occupied territories, creating conditions for psychological pressure and coercion of detainees into self-incrimination or providing desired testimony.

Once the family's location became known, Russian investigators charged all four with 'state treason' under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Details of the criminal proceedings are not disclosed. There are no publicly available materials to substantiate the charges, and the trial lacks proper transparency.

According to Refat Chubarov, acquaintances of the family suggest that their origin might be a reason for the persecution. Valentyn Maliar and his relatives are natives of Lviv who moved to Crimea before the Russian occupation of the peninsula. Human rights defenders emphasize that since the start of the full-scale war, Russia increasingly uses 'state treason' charges against residents of occupied territories, with cases often being closed and lacking public evidence.

Human rights defenders stress the need for adherence to international standards of fair trial, ensuring access to independent defense, and ending the practice of secret detention of civilians.

As of July 19, 2026, there is no information in open sources about the conclusion of the trial or the issuance of a sentence. Valentyn Maliar remains in custody.

Information sourced from open sources: ZAXID.NET, Statements by Refat Chubarov, head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, Human Rights Project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial', Intent, Hromadske Radio.

Update date: 19.07.2026.