Arrest: On January 24, 2023, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the Dzhankoy district of occupied Crimea and detained Crimean Tatar activist and pensioner Khalil Mambetov. Along with other members of the so-called 'second Dzhankoy group,' he was accused of participating in the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is legal in Ukraine but recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia.

Sentence: On April 29, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Khalil Mambetov to 14 years in prison. The first four years are to be served in prison, with the remaining term in a strict regime colony. The court also imposed one year of restricted freedom following the main sentence.

Khalil Azizovich Mambetov is one of the oldest Crimean Tatar political prisoners persecuted by Russia in occupied Crimea. He was born on May 26, 1955. He spent many years away from his native Crimea due to the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people. He returned with his family to their homeland only in 1989. After returning, the family rebuilt their lives from scratch, overcoming difficulties related to restoring their rights after decades of exile.

He lived with his wife Liliya Mambetova for over forty years. The couple raised three daughters. For the family, Khalil was not only a husband and father but also a primary support. His help was especially important as his wife battled cancer and diabetes for many years. After his arrest, the responsibility for household and her own health struggles fell entirely on her.

According to the family, law enforcement officers stormed the Mambetov home at dawn. The prisoner's wife recalled that they behaved aggressively, moved around with weapons, and searched every room. The family expressed belief that brochures might have been planted during the search, later used as 'evidence' in the case. After his arrest, Khalil Mambetov was accused of participating in Hizb ut-Tahrir activities and preparing for a violent seizure of power.

Before his arrest, he suffered from osteoarthritis, which significantly hindered his mobility. His condition worsened while in detention. Relatives reported constant pain in his legs and joints, high blood pressure, and lack of adequate medical treatment. Medications sent by the family did not always reach him, and necessary medical care was provided in limited scope.

A separate episode of persecution involved sending the 68-year-old man for compulsory inpatient psychiatric evaluation in spring 2023. He was held in a psychiatric facility for a month, which human rights defenders considered an additional form of pressure. After returning to the pre-trial detention centre, the family discovered his personal belongings, including glasses and the Quran, were missing. The detention centre administration also prohibited communication in the Crimean Tatar language during visits, allowing only Russian.

In September 2023, Khalil Mambetov and other case defendants were transferred from Simferopol to Rostov-on-Don in the Russian Federation. This violates international humanitarian law, which prohibits the transfer of civilian populations from occupied territories. Before the transfer, the family requested a meeting, but only his wife was allowed to see him. His daughters were not permitted to visit.

The trial lasted over two years. The Russian prosecution relied mainly on anonymous witness testimonies and religious conversation analyses. Such practices have been used for years in Crimean Hizb ut-Tahrir cases. After the verdict, he continued to be held in the Russian penitentiary system, and in August 2025, he was transferred to Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 2 in Taganrog.

In June 2026, the prisoner's wife, Liliya Mambetova, passed away. Due to his imprisonment, Khalil Mambetov was deprived of the opportunity to say goodbye to his wife and be with his family during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

Information sourced from open sources: Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Suspilne Crimea, ZMINA.

Photo: Memorial.

Update date: 23.07.2026.