Detention: On August 17, 2021, in occupied Crimea, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Sevastopol and the Bakhchysarai district. Following the search, Rustem Murasov, an activist from Sevastopol who supported other politically persecuted Crimean Tatars, was detained. Along with him, Rustem Tairov, Dzhabbar Bekirov, Zaur Abdullaev, and Raif Fevziev were detained as part of the so-called second Sevastopol group.

Sentence: On May 31, 2023, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation sentenced Rustem Murasov to 12 years in a high-security penal colony. The first four years were to be served in prison, followed by the remainder in the colony. Additionally, the court imposed one year of restricted freedom after release.

Murasov was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code for "participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist," and under Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 for allegedly preparing for a violent seizure of power. On November 20, 2023, the appellate military court upheld the sentence.

Rustem Murasov was born on July 21, 1972, in Fergana, Uzbekistan. He is ethnically Crimean Tatar, a citizen of Ukraine and Russia, and resided in Sevastopol. Before the persecution, he worked as a kitchen assistant and was divorced.

Before his arrest, Murasov actively participated in the public life of the Crimean Tatar community. He regularly attended court hearings in politically motivated cases, supported the families of political prisoners, and assisted other Crimean Tatars who faced persecution after Russia's occupation of Crimea.

According to ZMINA, during his 2021 detention, he had already experienced persecution: in February 2016, he was detained but later released.

On August 17, 2021, security forces conducted a search at his home. After the search, Murasov was detained and taken into custody. The investigation accused him of allegedly participating in a cell of "Hizb ut-Tahrir," an organization recognized as terrorist by the Russian Supreme Court in 2003. Ukrainian human rights defenders emphasize that this organization is not banned in Ukraine, and the persecution of Crimean Tatars for non-violent religious activities is part of Russia's systematic policy in the occupied peninsula.

According to human rights materials, accusations in such cases often rely on testimonies from secret witnesses, operational materials, and audio recordings of religious and political discussions. Murasov's case did not involve proven acts of terrorism or use of weapons.

After the sentence on May 31, 2023, Murasov remained in custody. In November of the same year, the appellate military court confirmed the punishment. Subsequently, he was transferred to Russian penal institutions. In March 2024, it was reported that he was transferred to Vladimir. Later, he was held in T-2 of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in the Vladimir region.

At the end of 2025 to early 2026, Murasov was transferred to the Saratov region. In January 2026, he was taken to Correctional Colony No. 4 in the city of Pugachyov, where he was immediately placed in a punishment cell. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center on March 2, 2026, he spent over 45 days in solitary confinement, losing about 10 kilograms — his weight decreased from approximately 72 to 62 kg. He also complained of high blood pressure, headaches, and inadequate medical care.

In May 2026, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center reported that Murasov was in IK-4 in Pugachyov and continued to have health problems. In August 2026, human rights defenders reported a further sharp deterioration in his condition: he had lost critical weight, his "ribs were visible," and he suffered from severe hypertension. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, the colony administration did not provide him with necessary life-saving medications and continued to hold him under strict regime conditions.

As of September 7, 2026, Rustem Murasov remains unlawfully deprived of liberty in Russia. The latest public reports from human rights defenders indicate a critical deterioration in his physical condition and lack of adequate medical assistance.

Information sourced from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, Ukrinform, Suspilne Crimea.

Photo: Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners.

Update date: 07.09.2026.