Political Prisoners
Evmenenko Kostyantyn
Detention: On May 3, 2023, Russian FSB officers detained him and charged him with treason (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code), illegal production of explosives (Article 223.1 of the Russian Criminal Code), and illegal storage of explosive devices (Article 222.1 of the Russian Criminal Code). According to the Russian investigation, Kostyantyn Evmenenko allegedly collaborated with the Security Service of Ukraine and, together with another accused, Oleksandr Lytvynenko, planned an attack on representatives of the occupation administration of Crimea. Ukrainian human rights organizations emphasize that the case shows signs of politically motivated persecution, and verifying the evidence is impossible due to the closed nature of the proceedings. Sentence: In July 2023, the Russian-controlled 'Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea' found Kostyantyn Evmenenko guilty and sentenced him to 10 years in a strict regime colony, 1 year of restricted freedom after release, and a fine of 500,000 Russian rubles. In the same case, Oleksandr Lytvynenko was sentenced to 9 years and 6 months of imprisonment. Human rights defenders view this case as one of a series of politically motivated criminal prosecutions of Ukrainian citizens in occupied Crimea.
Eyupov Azamat
Detention: On February 17, 2021, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Bilohirsk, Bakhchysarai, Simferopol districts, and Sevastopol. After the search, Azamat Eyupov was detained along with other Crimean Tatar activists. He was charged under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('Organization of the activities of a terrorist organization') due to alleged involvement with the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Russia but not in Ukraine or most countries worldwide. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations emphasize that the case lacks evidence of preparation or commission of terrorist acts and is politically motivated. Sentence: On July 12, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Azamat...
Fakhriyev Ruslan
Detention: On the night of November 15-16, Russian security forces conducted a search at the Fakhriyev family home and detained Ruslan Fakhriyev along with his father Seitkhalil Fakhriyev. After their detention, both men were taken to an unknown location, and their whereabouts were concealed for a long time. Sentence: As of July 22, 2026, there is no information in open sources about a sentence being issued. No official information about the charges has been disclosed. Human rights organizations consider the case as enforced disappearance and politically motivated persecution of civilians.
Fakhriyev Rustem
Detention: The exact date of Rustem Fakhriyev's detention is not established in available Ukrainian human rights sources. On December 1, 2025, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) claimed to have thwarted an assassination attempt on a senior officer of the Russian Ministry of Defense in occupied Crimea. The Russian agency named Rustem Fakhriyev as the organizer of this operation, alleging he acted as an officer of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. According to Russian reports, the direct perpetrator allegedly died during the arrest, while his local accomplice was detained and placed in a pre-trial detention centre under Article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code — 'assistance to terrorist activities'. Initially, the Russian security services did not disclose the name of the detained accomplice. Sentence: As of September 10, 2026, there is no information available in Ukrainian human rights sources about a verdict for Rustem Fakhriyev. The Crimean Tatar Resource Center includes Rustem Fakhriyev in the list of Crimean political prisoners held in pre-trial detention. However, the CTRC does not provide specific information on the trial date, charges, or sentence in the available list.
Fakhriyev Seitkhalil
Detention: On the night of November 15-16, 2025, Russian security forces conducted a search at the Fakhriyev family home and detained 65-year-old Seitkhalil Fakhriyev along with his son Ruslan. After the detention, both men were taken to an unknown location, and their whereabouts were concealed for a long time. Sentence: As of July 22, 2026, there is no final sentence. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center and the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, the occupation authorities have initiated a criminal case against Seitkhalil Fakhriyev under the article for an alleged 'terrorist act' (Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
Fevziev Raif
Detention: On August 17, 2021, in the village of Strohanivka, Simferopol district of occupied Crimea, Russian security forces searched Raif Fevziev's home and detained him. On the same day, four other Crimean Tatars — Dzhabbar Bekirov, Rustem Murasov, Rustem Tairov, and Zaur Abdullaev — were also detained in Crimea. Human rights organizations view these detentions as politically motivated persecution of Crimean Tatars and Muslims. Sentence: On January 12, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Raif Fevziev to 17 years in prison. He was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code. The first three years of the sentence were to be served in prison, the remainder in a strict regime colony. After release, the court imposed a restriction of freedom for one year and six months. The Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld the sentence.
Gafarov Dilyaver
Detention: On October 30, 2018, Russian security forces searched his home and detained Dilyaver. He was charged under part 2 of article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code for allegedly participating in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion. Gafarov categorically denied the charges, and human rights defenders stated that the case was politically motivated and based on fabricated evidence. Sentence: On August 28, 2019, the Russian-controlled 'Kirovsky District Court of the Republic of Crimea' unlawfully sentenced Dilyaver Gafarov to 10 years in a high-security colony and 1 year of restricted freedom after release. The appellate court upheld the sentence. The human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' recognized him as a political prisoner, emphasizing that the persecution is related to his civic position...
Gaziyev Servet
Arrest: On March 27, 2019, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Kamyanka and Stroganovka districts of Simferopol. After the search, Servet Gaziyev was detained and accused of alleged involvement in the activities of the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is recognized as 'terrorist' in Russia, although its activities are not banned in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. Human rights defenders emphasize that the charges were based mainly on secret witnesses and religious discussions, with no evidence of preparation or commission of violent acts. Sentence: On January 11, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don unlawfully sentenced Servet Gaziyev to 13 years of imprisonment, with the first 3 years to be served in prison and the remainder in a strict regime colony....
Goldenberg Valeria
Detention: On April 9, 2022, Valeria Goldenberg was detained by Russian security forces in occupied Crimea. The basis for the detention was a criminal case regarding the alleged desecration of the grave of a Russian serviceman who died during the war against Ukraine. After her arrest, she was placed in a pre-trial detention centre, where she remained until sentencing. Sentence: On June 7, 2022, the Sudak City Court, controlled by Russia, found Valeria Goldenberg guilty of 'desecrating a burial site out of political hatred' and sentenced her to 2 years in a settlement colony. A significant monetary fine was also reported. On August 24, 2022, the appellate court upheld the sentence.
Greck Alina
Detention: In 2021, she was detained by Russian security forces during a rally in support of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and was sentenced to five days of administrative arrest due to a video published in 2014, when she was only 15 years old. On January 22, 2024, Alina Greck was again detained by FSB officers. The Russian investigation accused her of treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), preparation of a terrorist act (Part 1, Article 30, Part 1, Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), and undergoing training for terrorist activities (Article 205.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). According to the investigation, she allegedly collaborated with Ukrainian military intelligence and prepared to set fire to a relay cabinet on the railway. These claims cannot be independently verified due to the closed nature of the case. Sentence: On August 14, 2025, the Southern District...
Grekova Nadiya
Detention: On February 6, 2024, an explosion occurred in an apartment building in occupied Sevastopol. Initially, the occupation authorities claimed it was a household gas explosion, but later the FSB of Russia announced it was an alleged assassination attempt on a Russian Black Sea Fleet officer. Nadiya Grekova was detained and charged with high treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), a terrorist act (Part 3 of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), training for the purpose of committing terrorist activities (Article 205.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), and illegal possession of explosives (Part 4 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). According to the Russian investigation, she allegedly acted on the instructions of Ukrainian special services. Human rights defenders emphasize that the case was considered in a closed session, making independent verification of the evidence impossible. Sentence: On July 30, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Nadiya Grekova to 22 years in a general regime colony. This is one of the harshest sentences given to a Ukrainian civilian during the full-scale war. After the verdict, she was transferred to Correctional Colony No. 7 in the Republic of Buryatia (Russian Federation).
Gugurik Bekir
Detention: In February 2025, he was detained by Russian security forces and placed in a pre-trial detention centre in Chongar. Russian investigators accused him of alleged participation in the 'Noman Çelebicihan Battalion', which is recognized as an illegal formation in Russia. Relatives were unable to see Bekir or obtain reliable information about his detention conditions for a long time. Sentence: On October 9, 2025, an occupation court in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region found Bekir Gugurik guilty on fabricated charges related to the so-called 'Noman Çelebicihan Battalion' and sentenced him to 4 years in prison. The Crimean Tatar Resource Center and several Ukrainian human rights organizations called this decision politically motivated and emphasized that the case is a continuation of a systemic...