Detention: On May 4, 2024, Crimean Tatar activist Erol Veliev was detained by Moldovan border and anti-terrorism services at Chisinau airport upon arrival. The reason was that the Russian Federation had placed him on its wanted list in 2018, accusing him of allegedly creating an 'extremist-terrorist organization' in occupied Crimea. After verification, Moldovan authorities determined the political nature of the persecution, found no record of him in the Interpol database, and released him the same day.

Sentence: The Russian Federation continues to consider him a person on its 'national wanted list,' but international law enforcement agencies do not seek him.

Veliev Erol is a Crimean Tatar public figure, assistant to the leader of the Crimean Tatar people Mustafa Dzhemilev, and an active participant in the Crimean Tatar national movement. After the occupation of Crimea by Russia, he left the peninsula and continued his activities in mainland Ukraine, advocating for the protection of Crimean Tatar rights and the de-occupation of Crimea.

In 2018, the Russian Federal Security Service opened a criminal case against Erol Veliev, accusing him of organizing a so-called 'extremist group' in Crimea. Veliev emphasized that he had not been in occupied Crimea for over a year and a half at the time of the alleged events, and the case was entirely fabricated. He also noted that Russian authorities use similar persecution mechanisms against many Crimean Tatar activists.

On May 4, 2024, during border control at Chisinau airport, Moldovan services found him in the Russian wanted database. After nearly three hours of checks and an interview with an anti-terrorism officer, Erol Veliev explained the circumstances of Russia's political persecution and described the systematic repression against Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea. The Moldovan side concluded that the case was political, after which the activist was released.

Following the incident, Veliev reported that his name was not listed in the Interpol database, and the detention was solely based on the Russian database. He also noted that Russia had included many other Crimean Tatar representatives in similar lists, including Mustafa Dzhemilev and Refat Chubarov.

Human rights defenders emphasize that Erol Veliev's case is another example of Russia using its own wanted lists for the international persecution of Ukrainian citizens and Crimean Tatar activists. Thanks to the intervention of Ukrainian diplomats, the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, and thorough checks by Moldovan law enforcement, the activist was released without any restrictions.

As of July 29, 2026, Erol Veliev continues his public activities. Politically motivated persecution by the Russian Federation persists.

Information used from open sources: Suspilne Crimea, Crimean Tatar Resource Center, TSN, Ukrainska Pravda.

Photo: Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

Date updated: 29.07.2026.