Political Prisoners

Abbozov Seitjaga

Detention: On August 11, 2022, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Dzhankoy district of temporarily occupied Crimea. Following the search, Seitjaga Abbozov was detained along with other Crimean Tatars in the so-called 'first Dzhankoy Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' He was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization') and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code ('preparation for the violent seizure of power'). Human rights organizations emphasize that the charges are based solely on religious affiliation and peaceful religious discussions, and the activities of 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' are not prohibited in Ukraine. Sentence: On November 26, 2025, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation found Seitjaga Abbozov guilty and sentenced him to 13 years in a high-security penal colony, with the first three years to be served in prison. Following the sentencing, the defense filed an appeal.

Abdulghaziyev Tofik

Detention: On March 27, 2019, in occupied Simferopol, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars as part of the so-called 'second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' After a repeated search of Tofik Abdulghaziyev's home, he was detained and taken into custody. Russian authorities accused him of participating in the activities of the Islamic organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir,' which is recognized as 'terrorist' in Russia, though it is not banned in Ukraine. Charges were brought under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization') and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code ('preparation for violent seizure of power'). Human rights organizations have called the case politically motivated. Sentence: On May 12, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Tofik Abdulghaziyev guilty and sentenced him to 12 years in a strict regime colony. According to the sentence, he is to spend the first five years in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony. In May 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in the city of Vlasikha upheld the sentence. In July 2023, Abdulghaziyev was transferred to the Verkhneuralsk prison in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia.

Abdullaev Izzet

Detention: On March 27, 2019, Izzet Abdullaev was detained by Russian security forces in occupied Crimea during mass searches of Crimean Tatar activists' homes in Simferopol. Following his detention, he was transferred to pre-trial detention centers in the Russian Federation. Sentence: In 2022, a Russian-controlled court sentenced Izzet Abdullaev to 12 years in a high-security colony in a case related to the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir. The Russian authorities consider it a terrorist organization, although it is not banned in Ukraine and most European countries. Izzet Abdullaev is a Crimean Tatar civic activist and one of the figures in the so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir case, sentenced by Russian authorities to 12 years in prison. His persecution became part of...

Abdullayev Zaur

Detention: On August 17, 2021, Russian security forces conducted a series of mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Bakhchisaray district of Crimea and Sevastopol. After the search, Zaur Abdullayev was detained along with Rustem Murasov, Rustem Tairov, Dzhabbar Bekirov, and Raif Fevziev. They were all accused of involvement in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir under Articles 205.5 and 278 of the Russian Criminal Code. In Ukraine, Hizb ut-Tahrir is not banned, and Ukrainian and international human rights organizations have called the case politically motivated and linked to the persecution of Crimean Tatars. Sentence: On May 31, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Zaur Abdullayev to 12 years of imprisonment. The first four years are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony.

Abdulvapov Amethan

Detention: On February 9, 2022, Amethan Abdulvapov was detained by officers of the FSB of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea during mass searches of Crimean Tatar homes as part of the so-called 'Hizb ut-Tahrir case'. He was detained in Simferopol after a search at his residence. Immediately after his detention, he was placed in a pre-trial detention centre and later transferred to a detention facility in the Russian Federation, specifically in the Irkutsk region, over 6,000 kilometers from Crimea. The transfer involved inadequate medical care and prolonged separation from his family. Sentence: In March 2023, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation sentenced Amethan Abdulvapov to 10 years and 6 months in a strict-regime colony. He was...

Abdulveliyev Abduraman

Detention: In May 2018, 16-year-old Abduraman Abdulveliyev was detained by police in the occupied Crimea, in the village of Kurske, Bilohirsk district, on suspicion of removing three Russian flags from the buildings of the village council, local club, and school memorial. Sentence: On April 4, 2019, Judge Oleksandr Oleynikov of the Bilohirsk district magistrate's court sentenced him to six months of restricted freedom under Article 329 of the Russian Criminal Code ('Desecration of the State Emblem of the Russian Federation or the State Flag of the Russian Federation'). During this period, Abduraman was required to remain within his village and notify authorities in advance of any departure. After serving the sentence, he was released. Abduraman Abdulveliyev is a Crimean Tatar teenager from the village of Kurske, Bilohirsk district...

Abduraimov Eldar

Detention: On July 6, 2023, Russian FSB officers detained Crimean resident Eldar Abduraimov. According to the Russian investigation, he allegedly distributed video materials among acquaintances calling for joining the Ukrainian partisan movement 'ATESH' and encouraged others to participate in the movement's activities. He was charged with promoting terrorist activities and public calls for terrorism. Ukrainian human rights organizations and the Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea emphasized that the case is another example of the criminal prosecution of residents of occupied Crimea for their pro-Ukrainian stance. Sentence: On November 30, 2024, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Eldar Abduraimov to 16 years in a high-security penal colony with a fine...

Abdurakhmanov Medzhit

Arrest: On March 27, 2019, during mass searches of Crimean Tatar activists' homes in Crimea. Following the search, Medzhit Abdurakhmanov was detained by FSB officers and arrested on charges of participating in the activities of the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as terrorist, although it is not banned in Ukraine. Sentence: On May 12, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Medzhit Abdurakhmanov to 12 years of imprisonment, with the first four years to be served in prison and the remainder in a strict regime colony. Russian authorities accused him of participating in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Ukraine and international human rights organizations consider the case politically motivated. Abdurakhmanov Medzhit is a Crimean Tatar,...

Abdurakhmanov Ruslan

Detention: Ruslan Abdurakhmanov was abducted by Russian military on May 22, 2022, during a mass raid in the village of Azovske, Henichesk district, Kherson region, then under Russian occupation. After his detention, he was illegally taken to occupied Crimea, where the FSB initiated a criminal case against him for alleged participation in the Noman Çelebicihan Volunteer Battalion. Sentence: On September 2, 2022, the occupation 'Kyiv District Court' of Simferopol sentenced Ruslan Abdurakhmanov to 5 years in a strict regime colony under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in an illegal armed formation'). Ukraine and international human rights organizations consider the sentence politically motivated and in violation of international humanitarian law. Abdurakhmanov...

Abduramanov Mustafa

Detention: On March 5, 2024, Mustafa Abduramanov was detained following a search of his home in Bakhchisarai. On this day, Russian security forces conducted simultaneous searches in ten homes of Crimean Tatars in the Bakhchisarai and Dzhankoy districts of occupied Crimea. After the search, Mustafa Abduramanov and three other Bakhchisarai activists — Memet Lumanov, Aziz Azizov, and Rustem Osmanov — were sent to a pre-trial detention centre. The Russian authorities charged Abduramanov under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code — allegedly for "organizing the activities of a terrorist organization." This relates to the persecution in the so-called "Hizb ut-Tahrir case." It is important to note that the designation of "terrorist organization" is a qualification under Russian law: "Hizb ut-Tahrir" operates legally in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. Verdict: As of September 2, 2026, no information about a conviction of Mustafa Abduramanov has been found in open verified sources. His case is still under judicial review.

Abdurazakov Osman

Detention: On January 24, 2023, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Dzhankoy district of temporarily occupied Crimea. After the search, Osman Abdurazakov was detained along with five other Crimean Tatar activists — Ekrem Krosh, Jemil Gafarov, Osman Dzhelalov, Enver Krosh, and Khalil Mambetov. He is accused of crimes under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization').

Abiltarov Rustem

Detention: On May 12, 2016, a search was conducted at Rustem Abiltarov's home in Bakhchisarai, after which he was arrested along with three other Crimean Tatars – Remzi Memetov, Zevri Abseitov, and Enver Mamutov. All four were charged with involvement in the Islamic organization Hizb ut-Tahrir: according to the investigation, they allegedly studied relevant literature, agitated the population, and recruited new members. Additionally, they were accused of 'preparing for a violent seizure of power by an organized group' – part 2 of article 35, part 1 of article 30, and article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code. Sentence: On December 24, 2018, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Rustem Abiltarov to 9 years in prison. On July 11, 2019, the Supreme Court of Russia reviewed the sentence and reduced the term for three defendants (Abiltarov, Memetov, Abseitov) by three months — to 8 years and 9 months.