Detention: On March 27, 2019, Russian security forces conducted extensive searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Simferopol district of occupied Crimea, particularly in the Kamyanka and Strohanivka neighborhoods. During this operation, Erfan Osmanov was detained. In total, over 20 Crimean Tatar activists were detained that day and later grouped into the so-called 'second Simferopol group' in the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case.

Sentence: On January 12, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Erfan Osmanov guilty in what Ukrainian human rights defenders consider a fabricated case of the 'second Simferopol group “Hizb ut-Tahrir”' and sentenced him to 13 years of imprisonment. The first two years were to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict-regime colony. After release, the court also imposed one year of freedom restrictions. On September 11, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld the sentence.

Erfan Osmanov was born on September 3, 1982, in Chartak, Namangan region, Uzbekistan, to a family of Crimean Tatars deported from Crimea by Soviet authorities in 1944. His mother was a chemistry and biology teacher, and his father was a musician.

In 1990, when Erfan was eight, the family returned to Crimea and settled in the village of Oktyabr, Dzhankoy district. From a young age, he was passionate about music, attended music school, and learned to play the trumpet. In 1996, he entered the Azov Music School, graduating four years later. During his studies, he played in musical ensembles.

In 2000, Osmanov enrolled in the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University to study 'music education' and obtained a teaching degree. Due to difficulties finding work in his field, he worked in decorative interior finishing. Music remained an important part of his life: he performed at festive events and organized children's parties as a musician.

In 2008, Erfan Osmanov married. The couple has four children. At the time of his arrest, the youngest child was only a few months old.

After the occupation of Crimea, Osmanov participated in public events supporting Crimean Tatars persecuted by the Russian occupation authorities. Before his arrest, Erfan Osmanov took part in activities supporting Crimean political prisoners. He notably visited the FSB building to support his fellow believer Riza Izetov, for which he had previously been issued an administrative protocol.

His involvement in supporting political prisoners was one of the circumstances leading to his criminal prosecution. The Russian side charged him under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code — 'participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist.' Subsequently, Articles 30 and 278 of the Russian Criminal Code were also applied to the charges.

In March 2021, the trial began in the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. Ukrainian human rights defenders emphasize that the persecution of Crimean Tatars in 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' cases is politically and religiously motivated. In Ukraine and most countries worldwide, the activities of this organization are not banned.

During his imprisonment, Osmanov's health deteriorated. He suffers from chronic liver diseases related to jaundice he had in childhood, kidney prolapse, and a chronic dermatological condition. In the pre-trial detention center, he also developed hypertension. According to his wife and human rights sources, he complained of heart problems, high blood pressure, and inadequate medical care.

After the sentence was issued, Osmanov was held in Russian penitentiary institutions. In 2024, he was transferred to the prison in Verkhneuralsk, Chelyabinsk region. On November 24, 2024, he was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 1 in Kyzyl, Republic of Tuva. He arrived at the colony on December 20, 2024, having traveled approximately 3,000 kilometers during the transfer.

As of September 2026, Erfan Osmanov remains in Correctional Colony No. 1 in Kyzyl, Republic of Tuva, Russia. On September 3, 2026, he turned 44 years old. The Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea reports that during his imprisonment, his health has worsened, with ongoing liver, kidney, and skin issues, as well as high blood pressure.

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

Photo: Crimea.Realii.

Update date: 07.09.2026.