Detention: On January 24, 2023, searches were conducted in the Dzhankoy district (temporarily occupied Crimea), after which six Crimean Tatars were detained and taken to Simferopol, where they were arrested the next day and sent to pre-trial detention centre No. 1. Builders Osman Abdurazakova and Leman Zekeriaev, entrepreneurs Khalil Mambetov and Refat Seydametov, and appliance repairmen Ekrem Krosh and Ayder Asanov are accused of participating in the activities of the Islamic political party "Hizb ut-Tahrir."

Sentence: On April 29, 2025, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation (Rostov-on-Don) sentenced Leman Zekeriaev to 14 years of imprisonment. The first 4 years are to be served in prison, the remainder in a strict regime colony. Additionally, 1 year of restricted freedom was imposed after release. Russian authorities accused him of participating in the activities of the organization "Hizb ut-Tahrir," which is recognized as terrorist in Russia, although it is not banned in Ukraine and most countries worldwide.

Leman Zekeriaev was born on November 20, 1973. He is a Crimean Tatar, a resident of the Dzhankoy district of Crimea. Before his arrest, he worked as a builder, was married, and had three children. The family led a normal life, not involved in violent activities or any criminal groups.

On the morning of January 24, 2023, Russian FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Dzhankoy district. A search was also conducted in Leman Zekeriaev's home. According to relatives and human rights defenders, the security forces did not allow independent lawyers and allegedly planted banned religious literature, which later became one of the "evidence" in the criminal case.

After the search, Leman Zekeriaev was detained along with five other Crimean Tatars – Ekrem Krosh, Ayder Asanov, Osman Abdurazakova, Refat Seydametov, and Khalil Mambetov. They all became part of the so-called "second Dzhankoy group" in the "Hizb ut-Tahrir" case. Human rights organizations emphasize that this case is part of a systematic campaign of political persecution of Crimean Tatars on the occupied peninsula.

The next day, a Russia-controlled court chose detention as a preventive measure for Zekeriaev. He was later transferred to pre-trial detention centre No. 1 in Simferopol, and after the pre-trial investigation was completed, to Rostov-on-Don, where the case was heard by the Southern District Military Court.

Human rights defenders repeatedly reported violations of Leman Zekeriaev's rights while in the pre-trial detention centre. In early 2024, he informed his lawyer about the use of physical violence, psychological pressure, and humiliation by detention centre staff. According to him, he was subjected to force, beaten, insulted, and psychologically pressured. His cellmate Ekrem Krosh provided similar testimony.

While in custody, attempts were made to pressure Leman Zekeriaev to cooperate with the investigation and testify against other Crimean Tatars. He refused to cooperate despite threats and unfavorable detention conditions.

The trial lasted over a year and a half. The main evidence for the prosecution was the results of covert audio recordings of conversations about religion, expert conclusions, and testimonies of secret witnesses. Independent human rights organizations emphasized that the prosecution did not provide evidence of preparation or commission of any violent acts or terrorist activities.

On April 29, 2025, the court found Leman Zekeriaev guilty and sentenced him to 14 years of imprisonment. Human rights organization representatives called the sentence politically motivated and contrary to international law.

After the verdict, Leman Zekeriaev remained in the Rostov-on-Don pre-trial detention centre awaiting transfer. In September 2025, it became known that he was transferred to pre-trial detention centre No. 3 in Novocherkassk, Rostov region, for further transfer to the place of serving his sentence.

Ukrainian and international human rights organizations view Leman Zekeriaev's case as an example of persecution of Crimean Tatars on religious and political grounds after the occupation of Crimea. They call on Russia to release all illegally detained Ukrainian citizens and to stop the practice of criminal prosecution on fabricated charges.

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

Photo: Crimean Solidarity.

Update date: 12.07.2026