Detention: On January 24, 2023, in occupied Crimea, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Dzhankoy district. Among those detained was Crimean Tatar activist and entrepreneur Refat Seidametov, residing in the village of Tymofiivka. Simultaneously, Khalil Mambetov, Osman Abdurazak, Leman Zekeriaev, and Ayder Asanov were also detained. Later, Ekrem Krosh was detained in the same case. After the searches, the men were taken to the FSB office in Simferopol. On January 25, 2023, the illegal 'Kyiv District Court' of Simferopol ordered pre-trial detention for all detainees. The Russian side accused them of allegedly participating in the activities of 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' and preparing for a violent seizure of power.

Human rights defenders emphasize that such criminal cases against Crimean Tatars are politically motivated. The charges are based on the application of Russian law in occupied Crimea and the persecution of people for their religious beliefs and civic activism.

Sentence: On April 29, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Refat Seidametov to 14 years in prison. The first 4 years are to be served in prison, followed by the remainder in a strict regime colony. After release, the court also imposed 1 year of restricted freedom. Seidametov was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code for alleged participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist under Russian law, and under Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code for alleged preparation for a violent seizure of power.

Refat Seitkhalilovich Seidametov was born on December 9, 1969. He is a Crimean Tatar, a citizen of Ukraine, and married. Before his detention, he lived in the Dzhankoy district of occupied Crimea and was engaged in entrepreneurial activities. Seidametov was a resident of the village of Tymofiivka in the Dzhankoy district. According to human rights sources, he worked as an entrepreneur before the persecution. His family lived with him in Crimea.

On January 24, 2023, Russian security forces came to Seidametov's house. According to his wife, the search began early in the morning. The security forces inspected the premises and searched for items that could be used as evidence in a criminal case. According to his wife, an FSB officer allegedly found two books, although she claimed these books did not belong to the family.

After the search, Seidametov was detained and taken to Simferopol. Along with other defendants, he was accused of involvement with 'Hizb ut-Tahrir'—an Islamic organization that Russia has recognized as terrorist. Meanwhile, in Ukraine and most countries, the activities of this organization are not banned. Human rights defenders emphasize that in such criminal cases, Russian authorities do not prove acts of violence or terrorist crimes by the defendants.

During the trial, Refat Seidametov was held in custody. In 2023, he, along with Khalil Mambetov and Ekrem Krosh, was sent for a compulsory psychiatric examination at the Crimean Republican Clinical Psychiatric Hospital No. 1. The Crimean Tatar Resource Center regarded this practice as a violation of the rights of illegally persecuted Crimean Tatars.

On August 22, 2023, the criminal case of six Crimean Tatars was transferred to the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. The trial took place outside occupied Crimea.

The defense highlighted procedural violations, illegal searches, and insufficient evidence. The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea reported that lawyers pointed out the use of operational search materials without proper documentation and violations of the defendants' right to defense. The defendants themselves stated they were persecuted for their religious beliefs and active civic position.

On April 29, 2025, the court announced the verdict for Refat Seidametov. Along with him, five other Crimean Tatars were sentenced to long prison terms. Khalil Mambetov, Osman Abdurazak, Leman Zekeriaev, and Ekrem Krosh also received 14 years, while Ayder Asanov received 11 years.

The Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea called the sentences illegal and emphasized that the case is yet another example of the systematic persecution of Crimean Tatars on fabricated charges.

As of September 9, 2026, the last confirmed location of Refat Seidametov is Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 of the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service in the Rostov region. According to available human rights data, after the verdict, he is awaiting further transfer to serve the assigned sentence. No newer reliable information about his transfer to a specific colony has been found in priority open sources.

Information used from open sources: ZMINA, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, CrimeaSOS, Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for Human Rights.

Update date: 09.09.2026.