Detention: February 9, 2022, in the village of Tankove, Bakhchysarai district, occupied Crimea. In the morning, Russian security forces searched Ansar Osmanov's home. After the search, he was detained and taken to the FSB office in Simferopol. That same day, the occupation court ordered his detention. Osmanov was one of four Crimean Tatars detained during simultaneous searches on February 9, 2022.

Sentence: On June 16, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Ansar Osmanov to 20 years in prison. The first 5 years were to be served in prison, the remainder in a high-security colony. He was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 205.5 and Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code, with the application of Part 1 of Article 30 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Ansar Ismailovich Osmanov was born on November 22, 1975. He is a Crimean Tatar, a citizen of Ukraine and Russia, residing in the village of Tankove, Bakhchysarai district, Crimea. Professionally, he worked as a woodcarver. Ansar Osmanov is married and, together with his wife Meryem, raises five children.

Before his arrest, Osmanov regularly attended court hearings in politically motivated cases against Crimean Tatars, including trials in Rostov-on-Don, and supported the families of those persecuted. His civic activism is considered one of the reasons human rights defenders view his prosecution as politically motivated.

On February 9, 2022, another wave of searches took place in the homes of Crimean Tatar activists in occupied Crimea. Security forces came to Osmanov's house in Tankove. After the search, he was detained. Along with him, Marlen Mustafayev, Ernest Seytosmanov, and Amethan Abdulvapov were also detained that day. Human rights organizations noted that the detainees were unable to properly contact their lawyers during the searches.

Russian investigators accused Osmanov of organizing the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization declared terrorist by the Russian Supreme Court. He was also charged with preparing for the violent seizure or retention of power. According to the investigation, Osmanov allegedly coordinated the activities of local cells of the organization in Sevastopol and Bakhchysarai district.

Osmanov did not plead guilty.

On June 16, 2023, the Russian military court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Osmanov to 20 years in prison. This was one of the harshest sentences for a Crimean Tatar activist in Hizb ut-Tahrir cases at that time. The human rights center ZMINA called the sentence unlawful.

On February 4, 2025, the Military Appeals Court in Vlasikha, Moscow region, upheld the sentence. The defense insisted on the illegality of the prosecution and the lack of evidence linking Osmanov to extremist activities.

In May 2025, it became known that after being transferred, Ansar Osmanov was taken to prison No. 2 in Vladimir (Vladimir Central). For almost a month, his family had no reliable information about his whereabouts. In 2025, his wife also reported health issues for Osmanov, including a rash and toothache, as well as difficulties receiving letters from the family.

In January 2026, after approximately four years apart, Ansar Osmanov saw his wife and five children for the first time. The extended visit took place in Vladimir, where the family traveled from Crimea.

As of September 7, 2026, Ansar Osmanov remains unlawfully imprisoned in Russia. Current data indicates his location at FKU T-2 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Vladimir region — Vladimir Central.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, CrimeaSOS, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, 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.

Last updated: 07.09.2026.