Detention: On April 21, 2015, in occupied Crimea, Crimean Tatar television channel ATR operator Eskender Nebiyev was detained. The basis was his presence at a rally on February 26, 2014, in front of the Crimean Supreme Council building — a case initiated for participation in an event that occurred before Russia's occupation of Crimea. According to the investigation, he participated in 'mass riots.' Zair Smedlyaev, head of the Central Election Commission of the Kurultai of the Crimean Tatar people, believed Nebiyev was arrested partly because he refused to give false testimony against Akhtem Chiygoz, deputy head of the Mejlis, who had been in custody for over 8 months on charges of organizing the same events on February 26.

Sentence: On October 12, 2015, a Russian-controlled court sentenced Eskender Nebiyev to 2 years and 6 months of suspended imprisonment under Part 2 of Article 212 of the Russian Criminal Code ('Participation in mass riots'). The court considered his full admission of guilt and cooperation with the investigation. The case was closed after serving the suspended sentence.

Eskender Nebiyev is a Crimean Tatar operator for the ATR television channel, a resident of Crimea. He is married. His father, Bekir Nebiyev, was accused of shooting medics at an ambulance station in Simferopol — a tragedy that occurred during the events of February 26, 2014. According to media reports, shortly before the verdict was announced for his son, Bekir Nebiyev was found dead in a forest near Simferopol.

On February 26, 2014, the Day of Crimean Resistance, about a thousand Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian Crimeans gathered in front of the Crimean Supreme Council building to prevent the adoption of an illegal decision to hold a 'referendum' on joining Russia. Simultaneously, pro-Russian activists held their rally. Two people died in clashes between the two groups. The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case after the annexation, qualifying the actions of pro-Ukrainian rally participants as 'mass riots.' Crimean Tatar leader Mustafa Dzhemilev called this absurd: the rally took place before Crimea was declared part of the Russian Federation.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center recognized Eskender Nebiyev as a victim of political repression and included him in its registry of persecuted individuals.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Center for Investigative Journalism, Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 03.07.2026.