Detention: On March 27, 2019, in occupied Simferopol, Russian security forces conducted extensive searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars. Seitveli Seitabdiyev was among those detained. These mass searches were part of the so-called 'second Simferopol group' of the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case. The Russian side accused Seitabdiyev of alleged involvement in 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' activities and preparation for 'violent seizure of power.' He was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5, Part 1 of Article 30, and Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code. Ukrainian human rights defenders consider such prosecutions of Crimean Tatars to be politically motivated. After his detention, Seitveli Seitabdiyev was held in a pre-trial detention centre in occupied Crimea and was later transferred to Russia for trial.

Sentence: On March 18, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Seitveli Seitabdiyev to 14 years in a strict regime colony. The first 5 years were to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony. On July 7, 2023, the Military Appeals Court in Vlasikha upheld the sentence without changes.

Seitveli Eskenderovich Seitabdiyev was born on March 16, 1994, in Simferopol. He is a Crimean Tatar, a citizen of Ukraine, married, and has two children. He lived in Simferopol.

He studied at Kamyanka School No. 42. After graduation, he attended a technical school, where he obtained a qualification in transportation management. He later continued his education at a university and earned a higher degree.

Before his detention, Seitabdiyev worked in various fields. According to the Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, he was socially active and willingly helped others.

Seitabdiyev organized deliveries of essential items for Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian activists unlawfully detained by the Russian occupation authorities. His civic activity and support for persecuted individuals were important aspects of his life before his arrest.

On March 27, 2019, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatar activists. Seitabdiyev was detained as part of a case that human rights defenders call the 'second Simferopol group' of the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case. Alongside him, Akim Bekirov, Rustem Seytkhalilov, Eskender Suleymanov, and other Crimean Tatars were also persecuted.

During the trial, Seitabdiyev contested the legality of the prosecution. In 2021, he filed a motion to declare the evidence obtained during the search inadmissible. According to ZMINA, the defense also highlighted issues with evidence examination and ensuring equality of parties in the process.

In February 2022, before the verdict was delivered, Seitabdiyev fell ill during a court session. He complained of weakness and symptoms resembling a coronavirus infection. An ambulance was called to the court, but according to the defense and family, proper examination was not conducted.

In his final statement in March 2022, Seitabdiyev declared the political nature of the case and emphasized the systematic persecution of Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea. Shortly after, the court sentenced him to 14 years in prison.

After the verdict, Seitabdiyev was transferred to Russia to serve his sentence. In 2024, he was in a prison in Yelets, Lipetsk region. According to relatives, he was not provided with adequate medical care for a long time.

Seitveli complained of severe scalp itching, back and elbow pain, and vision problems. For over a month, he could not see a surgeon or an ophthalmologist. After a dermatologist's examination, no precise diagnosis was made.

In addition to medical care issues, Seitabdiyev reported poor detention conditions: low-quality food and water, dampness in the cell, mold on the ceiling, cold at night, and irregular sanitation procedures. Due to the frequent serving of pork in the facility, he said he was forced to subsist mainly on bread.

It was also reported that due to the absence of staff to facilitate phone calls, Seitabdiyev could not communicate with his family for an extended period.

According to the Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, in 2025, Seitveli Seitabdiyev was in Correctional Colony No. 9 in the city of Tsivilsk, Chuvash Republic, Russia. No newer confirmation of a change in detention location has been found in priority open sources.

As of September 9, 2026, Seitveli Seitabdiyev continues to serve the unlawful sentence imposed by the Russian court. His case remains part of the systematic persecution of Crimean Tatars and Ukrainian citizens on the occupied peninsula.

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

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 09.09.2026.