Detention: On March 5, 2024, Russian security forces detained Rustem Osmanov in Bakhchisarai, occupied Crimea, following a search of his home. On the same day, the Russia-controlled Kyiv District 'court' of Simferopol ordered his detention. He was accused of participating in the activities of the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir'.

Sentence: As of October 9, 2026, no sentence has been issued. The criminal case is being considered by the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don. Rustem Osmanov is held in pre-trial detention centre No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don.
Rustem Osmanovich Osmanov was born on January 16, 1989. He is a Crimean Tatar, a citizen journalist, and a former employee of the Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR. He lived in Bakhchisarai, occupied Crimea. After the Russian occupation of the peninsula, he remained in his homeland.

Rustem Osmanov worked as an editing director at the ATR channel in Simferopol. After Russian authorities stopped the channel's broadcasting in Crimea, ATR resumed operations in Kyiv in 2015. Rustem stayed in Crimea and joined the activities of the civic association 'Crimean Solidarity', which documents political persecution, covers court proceedings, and supports the families of illegally imprisoned Crimean Tatars.

In March 2024, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Bakhchisarai and Dzhankoy districts of occupied Crimea. On March 5, ten people were detained, including citizen journalists Rustem Osmanov and Aziz Azizov. Both were included in the so-called sixth Bakhchisarai group in the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case.

On the same day, the Russia-controlled Kyiv District 'court' of Simferopol ordered Osmanov's detention. He was charged with participating in the activities of the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir', which Russia has designated as terrorist. However, this organization is not banned in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. The Russian side uses cases against its alleged participants to persecute Crimean Tatars, including activists and citizen journalists.
By November 2024, Osmanov was held in pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Simferopol. On November 5, he and other defendants of the sixth Bakhchisarai group were transferred to pre-trial detention centre No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don. The Crimean Tatar Resource Center reported the transfer on November 19.

On November 25, 2024, the first hearing in the case was scheduled at the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation. In September 2025, the case was returned for a new trial due to a change in the composition of the judicial panel.

In February 2026, during the court proceedings, a witness who was present during the search of Osmanov's home was questioned. The defense questioned the reliability of his testimony. In March 2026, the court extended the detention of the accused, and in April, defense witnesses positively characterized the defendants. In May 2026, the court planned to question experts who conducted examinations at the request of the FSB.

Human rights organizations and media emphasize that the persecution of citizen journalists in Crimea occurs amid systemic pressure on the Crimean Tatar community and those documenting human rights violations. Osmanov was involved in covering searches and court proceedings related to political persecution in Crimea.
As of October 9, 2026, Rustem Osmanov remains in pre-trial detention centre No. 1 in Rostov-on-Don. The latest reports indicate that the case continues to be considered in the court of first instance. No information on sentencing or change of detention location has been found.

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

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 09.10.2026