Detention: On October 15, 2025, FSB officers searched the Nimetulaev family home and detained Esma.

Sentence: As of July 21, 2026, there is no information on the sentence. The Russian Federation accuses Esma Nimetulaeva 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 party Hizb ut-Tahrir. Ukrainian human rights organizations consider the case politically motivated and view it as a continuation of repressions against Crimean Tatars and families of political prisoners.

Esma Nimetulaeva was born on January 9, 1986, in Yava, Khodjent District, Leninabad Region, Tajikistan (now Gafurov District, Sughd Region).

In 1991, the Bekirov family returned to Crimea. In 1993, at the age of seven, young Esma started first grade at the Dobrovska Secondary School in the village of Dobro, Simferopol District. After graduating, she enrolled in the Simferopol Higher Vocational School of Restaurant Service and Tourism to become a confectioner.

According to Esma's family, during her studies, teachers and classmates spoke highly of her. Relatives note that she was modest and determined, always achieving her goals.

In 2008, Esma married Remzi Nimetulaev. The couple wed in Bakhchisarai. The Nimetulaevs have five daughters.

After the unlawful arrest of her husband Remzi Nimetulaev in August 2023, Esma became the sole provider for the family. She baked pastries at home to support her five children. Relatives say Esma dedicated herself entirely to raising her daughters while continuing to support other relatives of political prisoners and participating in community initiatives.

On October 15, 2025, FSB officers searched the Nimetulaev family home and detained Esma. On the same day, three other Crimean Tatar women—Nasiba Saidova, Fevziye Osmanova, and Elviza Aliyeva—were also detained in occupied Crimea. This was the first instance where Russian authorities simultaneously opened a Hizb ut-Tahrir case against several Crimean Tatar women.

On October 16, 2025, the occupying Kyiv District Court of Simferopol imposed a two-month detention on Esma. The hearing was held in closed session. According to lawyer Emil Kurbedinov, Esma was placed in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol, where she remains. Her detention period has been repeatedly extended.

Human rights defenders emphasize that Esma Nimetulaeva's case is unprecedented. For the first time since the occupation of Crimea, Russia has begun to massively apply charges of involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir against women. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations see this as a new stage of political repression against the Crimean Tatar population.

After Esma's arrest, her five minor daughters were left without both parents, as Remzi Nimetulaev has been in Russian custody since 2023. Esma's brother took custody of the children. Relatives report that the children are struggling with the separation from their parents, and the Nimetulaev family case has become one of the most notable examples of how Russia's political repressions are destroying Crimean Tatar families.

Ukrainian human rights activists stress that the criminal prosecution of Esma Nimetulaeva violates international humanitarian law and the right to a fair trial. They urge the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to release Esma and other unlawfully imprisoned Crimean Tatars.

As of July 21, 2026, Esma Nimetulaeva remains in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol. There is no information in verified open sources about a final verdict or her release. Her case remains one of the most high-profile examples of politically motivated persecution of Crimean Tatar women.

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

Photo: Suspilne Crimea.

Update date: 21.07.2026