Detention: On August 24, 2023, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Bakhchisaray district. After the search, Remzi Nimetulaev was detained along with other activists.

Sentence: As of July 21, 2026, there is no information about the sentence. The Russian Federation accuses Remzi Nimetulaev under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('organization of the activities of a terrorist organization'), linking the case to alleged involvement in the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations consider the case politically motivated and emphasize that the persecution is part of a systematic campaign of repression against Crimean Tatars.

Remzi Nimetulaev was born on October 14, 1985. He is a Crimean Tatar, resident of Bakhchisaray, and a builder by profession. He is married to Esma Nimetulaeva, and together they raised five daughters. After the Russian occupation of Crimea began, Remzi joined a civic movement supporting political prisoners and helping families of illegally detained Crimean Tatars.

Even before the criminal case was opened, Remzi faced persecution by the occupying authorities. In November 2021, he was detained near a temporary detention facility in Simferopol, where he went to meet lawyer Edem Semedlyaev after his administrative arrest. The occupying court then sentenced Remzi to ten days of administrative arrest.

On August 24, 2023, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Bakhchisaray district. After the search, Remzi Nimetulaev was detained along with other activists. Russian security forces accused him of 'organizing the activities of a terrorist organization,' referring to Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is legal in Ukraine but banned in Russia. Human rights defenders emphasize that in similar cases, accusations are mainly based on testimonies of hidden witnesses, religious studies, and other evidence that do not meet international standards of fair trial.

After the arrest, Remzi was placed in a pre-trial detention centre and later transferred to Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don. While in custody, he complained of heart pain and was subjected to a compulsory forensic psychiatric examination, raising concerns among human rights defenders. The court repeatedly extended his detention period.

In October 2025, Russian security forces also detained Remzi's wife, Esma Nimetulaeva. She became involved in another politically motivated case. After the arrest of both parents, their five minor daughters were left without parental care. Esma's brother took custody of the children. The Nimetulaev family's story became one of the most well-known examples of how Russia's political repressions destroy Crimean Tatar families.

Ukrainian human rights organizations emphasize that Remzi Nimetulaev's case is part of a large-scale campaign of persecution against activists.

As of July 21, 2026, Remzi Nimetulaev remains in custody in the Russian Federation. There is no information in open verified sources about a final sentence or his release. His case remains one of the most well-known examples of politically motivated persecution of Crimean Tatars under the occupation of Crimea.

Information used from open sources: Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Suspilne Crimea, Office of the Ukrainian Ombudsman, Crimea Realities, Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Office of the Ukrainian Ombudsman.

Update date: 21.07.2026.