Arrest: On June 10, 2019, Russian security forces detained Ruslan Nagayev at his home in the village of Malorichenske, Alushta district, in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The arrest was part of the so-called 'Alushta group' in the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case. Along with Nagayev, Lenur Khalilov, Ruslan Mesutov, and Eldar Kantemirov were also detained that day. The following day, the so-called Kyiv District Court of Simferopol ordered Nagayev to be held in custody.

Sentence: On August 16, 2021, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Ruslan Nagayev to 13 years in a strict regime colony, with the first 2 years to be served in prison, and imposed 1 year of restricted freedom after release.

He was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code — 'participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist', as well as under Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code — alleged preparation for violent seizure of power.

Ruslan Seyranovich Nagayev was born on June 7, 1964, in the city of Leninsk, Andijan region, Uzbek SSR, to a family of Crimean Tatars deported from Crimea. In 1977, at the age of 13, his family returned to Crimea. Upon return, the family faced difficulties with registration and employment. Six years later, Ruslan's father died of ischemic heart disease.

After school, Nagayev entered a maritime college in Kronstadt. Following his studies, he served in the auxiliary fleet of the Soviet Navy and later worked as a ship electrician. He also worked on fishing vessels in the Far East and the Atlantic. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, after moving to the Alushta district, he worked as an electrician, tour guide, sailor, and private entrepreneur.

In 1990, Nagayev moved to the village of Malorichenske, Alushta district, where he lived with his family. In 1991, a Soviet court fined him 300 rubles for so-called 'self-seizure of a land plot'. The plot was intended for housing construction, with a verbal agreement with the state farm director.

Ruslan Nagayev is married and has two daughters. Before his arrest, he was a private entrepreneur, organizing boat tours during the summer season.

Religion played an important role in his life. In 2011, Nagayev performed the Hajj — a pilgrimage to Mecca. From 2015, he substituted for the imam of the mosque in Malorichenske, conducting Friday prayers. From 2017, at the request of the village's Muslim community, he served as the mosque's imam, conducting funeral, memorial, and festive services.

On June 10, 2019, Nagayev was detained as part of the 'Alushta group' 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case. Russian investigators accused him of participating in the activities of an organization deemed terrorist by Russian authorities, as well as preparing for the violent seizure of power. Human rights defenders emphasize that the persecution of Crimean Muslims in such cases is based on non-violent religious activities, including participation in meetings and discussions of religious literature.

On August 16, 2021, the court sentenced Nagayev to 13 years of imprisonment. Alongside him, Lenur Khalilov was sentenced to 18 years, Ruslan Mesutov to 18 years, and Eldar Kantemirov to 12 years in the same case.

In detention, Nagayev's health deteriorated. He suffers from chronic tonsillitis with complications affecting his kidneys and joints, arthritis of the left knee and right elbow. In 2023, his family reported high blood pressure, dental issues, and the need for specialist consultations.

In August 2024, his lawyer reported that Nagayev, then in Verkhneuralsk prison in the Chelyabinsk region, required specialist medical consultations. Subsequently, due to an exacerbation of a chronic condition, he was transferred to a prison hospital, where, according to his wife, he needed surgery. In November 2024, it was reported that he was in a hospital in Arkhangelsk. After transfer, he was moved to FKU IK-21 OUKHD UFSIN Russia in Arkhangelsk region, in the settlement of Iksa.

As of September 7, 2026, Ruslan Nagayev remains imprisoned at FKU IK-21 OUKHD UFSIN Russia in Arkhangelsk region.

Information sourced from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, CrimeaSOS, Association of Relatives of Kremlin Political Prisoners, Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukrinform, Crimea.Realii.

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 07.09.2026.