Arrest: On February 9, 2022, in occupied Crimea, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Bakhchisaray, Simferopol, Bilohirsk districts, and the Balaklava district of Sevastopol. One of the search locations was the home of Ernest Seitosmanov in the village of Tylove, Balaklava district. After the search, Ernest Seitosmanov was detained and taken to a Russian security agency. He was taken into custody the same day. This was not the first search of his home. In April 2021, security forces also conducted a search, after which Seitosmanov reported being subjected to physical force during detention and interrogation.

Sentence: On May 24, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Ernest Seitosmanov to 18 years in prison. The first four years were to be served in prison, followed by a strict regime penal colony. After release, the court imposed an additional 1 year and 6 months of restricted freedom. In November 2023, an appellate court reduced the sentence by six months to 17 years and 6 months of imprisonment.

Ernest Seitosmanov was born on September 5, 1985. He is a Crimean Tatar activist, a Ukrainian citizen, and the brother of Crimean Tatar political prisoner Enver Seitosmanov.

Before his arrest, Ernest Seitosmanov lived in the village of Tylove, Balaklava district, Sevastopol. He worked as a tractor driver in the Sevastopol district of Crimea.

Following the Russian occupation of Crimea, he actively participated in the public life of the Crimean Tatar community. Seitosmanov attended court hearings in politically motivated cases against Crimean Tatars, both in Crimea and Rostov-on-Don.

He also assisted families of political prisoners with social and domestic issues and participated in public initiatives. His activities were particularly related to supporting persecuted Crimean Tatars.

Ernest Seitosmanov repeatedly came to the attention of Russian security forces. In 2015, his home was searched during the persecution of members of the Sevastopol group in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case.

In April 2021, Russian security forces again searched his home. Following this, Seitosmanov was taken to the FSB office, where he was interrogated for about six hours. He reported being subjected to physical force during his detention. He was released after the interrogation.

On February 9, 2022, another search was conducted at his home. According to Ernest Seitosmanov, Russian security forces planted religious literature during the search, which was later used as evidence in a criminal case. The defense requested a fingerprint examination to verify the presence of his fingerprints on the seized books.

The Russian side accused Seitosmanov of involvement with the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as a terrorist organization. He was charged under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code, as well as Article 278. Human rights defenders and the defense view the case as politically motivated persecution of a Crimean Tatar for religious and public activities.

On May 24, 2023, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Ernest Seitosmanov to 18 years in prison. During the trial, he did not admit to the charges. In his final statement, Seitosmanov claimed the accusations against him were slander and denied involvement in terrorist activities.

In November 2023, an appellate court reduced the sentence to 17 years and 6 months. Following this, Seitosmanov was transferred to Prison No. 2 'Vladimir Central'.

In April 2024, it was reported that he was held in inadequate conditions in Vladimir. He was in a cell approximately 1.5 by 2 meters, which was damp, cold, and lacked ventilation. Seitosmanov was placed in solitary confinement twice.

In April 2026, Russian authorities transferred Ernest Seitosmanov from 'Vladimir Central' to Correctional Colony No. 2 in Angarsk, Irkutsk region. The distance from Crimea to this facility is several thousand kilometers. Upon arrival, he reported being unable to write letters or call his family for some time.

As of September 10, 2026, Ernest Seitosmanov remains in Russian detention. The last confirmed location of his detention by human rights and Ukrainian sources is Correctional Colony No. 2 in Angarsk, Irkutsk region, Russia.

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

Photo: ZMINA.

Update date: 10.09.2026.