Political Prisoners

Huseynov Huseyn

Detention: In 2023, Huseyn Huseynov was detained by Russian security forces and charged under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('participation in an illegal armed formation'). According to the investigation, he was allegedly involved with a battalion considered illegal by Russia. Huseynov denied the charges. Sentence: On September 26, 2024, a Russian court found Huseyn Huseynov guilty and sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months in a high-security penal colony, with 1 year in prison and the remainder in a correctional colony. Human rights advocates emphasize that criminal cases related to alleged participation in the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion have become a common tool for persecuting Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories.

Ibrahimov Ernest

Detention: February 17, 2021, Bakhchisaray district, temporarily occupied Crimea. The authorities of Russian-occupied Crimea detained Ibrahimov, among others, following searches of their homes. On the same day, the Kyiv District Court of Simferopol arrested him for 2 months. Ernest was charged under part 2 of Article 205.5 (participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist under Russian law). A few months later, he was transferred from Crimea and placed in a pre-trial detention centre in Rostov-on-Don during the trial. Sentence: On July 7, 2022, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Ernest Ibrahimov to 13 years of imprisonment. The first 3 years are to be served in prison, the remainder in a strict regime colony. Additionally, 1 year of restricted freedom is imposed after release....

Ibrahimov Ibrahim

Detention: On August 5, 2025, Ibrahim Ibrahimov was detained by officers of the Federal Security Service of Russia. Sentence: On June 18, 2026, a court under the control of the Russian Federation found Ibrahim Ibrahimov guilty under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('treason') and sentenced him to 17 years in a high-security penal colony. As of July 17, 2026, the sentence had not yet come into legal force and was under appeal.

Ibrahimov Ismet

Detention: On July 7, 2020, FSB officers conducted mass searches in various districts of occupied Crimea and detained Crimean Tatar Ismet Ibrahimov. He was placed in a pre-trial detention centre in Simferopol. Russian authorities accused Ibrahimov of organizing activities for the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is legal in Ukraine but was declared a 'terrorist' organization in Russia in 2003. Sentence: On July 8, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Ismet Ibrahimov to 19 years of imprisonment: the first 5 years in prison, the remainder in a strict regime colony. After serving the main sentence, he was also given 2 years of restricted freedom. On October 2, 2023, the Russian Military Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. Ismet Tairovich Ibrahimov was born...

Ibrahimov Khalil

Detention: July 7, 2020, Simferopol district, temporarily occupied Crimea. Sentence: On July 8, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Khalil Ibrahimov to 14 years of imprisonment under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation”) and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“preparation for violent seizure of power”). The first 4 years are to be served in prison, the remainder in a strict regime colony. After release, one year of restricted freedom is imposed. On October 2, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal upheld the sentence.

Ibrahimov Timur

Detention: On October 11, 2017, officers of the FSB of the Russian Federation searched the home of Crimean Tatar journalist Timur Ibrahimov in Bakhchisaray and detained him as part of the so-called second Bakhchisaray group of the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir case'. Other Crimean Tatar activists were also detained that day. The occupying authorities accused Ibrahimov of participating in the activities of the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' organization, which is banned in Russia but operates legally in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. Sentence: On September 16, 2020, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Timur Ibrahimov to 17 years in a high-security penal colony. Appeals and cassation complaints did not overturn the sentence. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations recognized Ibrahimov as a political...

Ibraimov Arsen

Detention: On April 6, 2022, Crimean Tatar Arsen Ibraimov was detained by Russian FSB officers at the administrative border between Kherson Oblast and temporarily occupied Crimea. Subsequently, Russian authorities accused him of participating in the Noman Çelebicihan Crimean Tatar Volunteer Battalion, which is recognized as a 'terrorist organization' in Russia. Arsen Ibraimov categorically denied any involvement with the battalion and did not plead guilty. Sentence: On August 25, 2022, the Russia-controlled Kyiv District Court of Simferopol sentenced Arsen Ibraimov to 10 years in a strict regime colony, with the first year to be served in prison. In December 2022, the so-called Supreme Court of Crimea upheld the sentence and dismissed the defense's appeal.

Kupich Ihor

Detention: In June 2022, FSB officers detained Ihor Kupich, a resident of Pionerske village in the Simferopol district. Russian security forces accused him of attempting to set fire to the so-called military commissariat building in Simferopol and preparing sabotage on the railway. After his detention, he was placed in a temporary detention facility and later taken into custody. Sentence: On March 30, 2023, the Russia-controlled Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea sentenced Ihor Kupich to 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of 70,000 rubles. The first three years of his sentence were to be served in prison, with the remainder in a high-security penal colony. In August 2023, the appellate court upheld the sentence.

Ilchenko Yuriy

Detention: On July 2, 2015, Yuriy Ilchenko was detained by FSB officers and the Center for Countering Extremism (CCE) in Sevastopol. The basis for the detention was his blog and social media posts, where he sharply criticized the occupation of Crimea, called for a complete blockade of the annexed Crimea, and suggested revoking Ukrainian citizenship from Crimeans who obtained Russian passports. Before his detention, FSB and CCE officers, including Maksym Novoseltsev, whom colleagues called 'the executioner' for his cruelty, frequently visited his home. He was charged under Articles 280 and 282 of the Russian Criminal Code — public calls for extremist activities and inciting ethnic hatred. Sentence: After 11 months in Simferopol pre-trial detention centre, on June 2, 2016, Ilchenko was placed under house arrest with an electronic bracelet. On June 11, he escaped — cutting off the bracelet, wearing his father's jacket, and taking his mother's cane to avoid immediate recognition by cameras on trees near his home. He ran through the forest for about an hour and a half. He reached the administrative border by hitchhiking, changing cars several times. He crossed the border through a mined forest area. On June 16, he arrived at CrimeaSOS in Lviv. After his release, Ilchenko lives in Lviv with his parents, who were successfully evacuated from Crimea.

Khalilov Ilman

Detention: As of July 30, 2026, there is no information about the physical detention of Ilman Khalilov by Russian security forces. However, he is subject to politically motivated persecution by the Russian Federation. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, a criminal case has been opened against him under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in an illegal armed formation'). The Russian authorities associate him with the activities of the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan and pursue him in absentia. Sentence: As of July 30, 2026, there is no information about a guilty verdict against Ilman Khalilov. The Russian Federation continues his criminal prosecution in absentia. The Crimean Tatar Resource Center includes him in the list of individuals persecuted for political reasons.

Danilovych Iryna

Detention: On April 29, 2022, Iryna disappeared on her way home from work in Koktebel. Her whereabouts were concealed from her family for nearly two weeks. It was later revealed that she was unlawfully detained by FSB officers, where she reportedly experienced physical and psychological pressure. Russian authorities accused Iryna of illegal possession of explosives (Part 1, Article 222.1 of the Russian Criminal Code), claiming that a homemade explosive device was allegedly found in her eyeglass case. Iryna Danilovych categorically denies these charges, asserting that the explosives were planted on her after her abduction.

Ismailov Rustem

Detention: On October 12, 2016, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Kamyanka and Strohonivka neighborhoods of the Simferopol district. During the search of Rustem Ismailov's house, FSB officers broke down the door and used physical force against him. He was detained on charges of alleged involvement in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir. Sentence: On June 18, 2019, the North Caucasus District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Rustem Ismailov to 14 years in a strict regime colony. On December 24, 2019, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation reduced the sentence by six months to 13 years and 6 months of imprisonment.