Political Prisoners

Mambetov Khalil

Arrest: On January 24, 2023, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the Dzhankoy district of occupied Crimea and detained Crimean Tatar activist and pensioner Khalil Mambetov. Along with other members of the so-called 'second Dzhankoy group,' he was accused of participating in the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is legal in Ukraine but recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia. Sentence: On April 29, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Khalil Mambetov to 14 years in prison. The first four years are to be served in prison, with the remaining term in a strict regime colony. The court also imposed one year of restricted freedom following the main sentence.

Khalilov Nedim

Detention: On November 7, 2016, a Russia-controlled court in Simferopol sentenced Crimean Tatar activist Nedim Khalilov to deportation from Crimea for lacking a passport. He was then arrested and placed in a Russian filtration camp in the village of Vardane. Sentence: The court decision to deport Crimean Tatar activist Nedim Khalilov to Uzbekistan was made on November 7, 2016, in case 5a-2374/2016. The formal reason was his lack of a Russian or Ukrainian passport, as he had lived in Crimea with a Soviet passport since 1986. On the same day, he was arrested, transported out of Crimea, and placed in a filtration camp — the Temporary Detention Center for Foreign Nationals in the village of Vardane, Krasnodar Krai.

Kobzar Anatoliy

Detention: On March 5, 2024, officers of the Russian Federal Security Service illegally detained Anatoliy Kobzar. After his detention, he was completely isolated from the outside world. Sentence: As of July 19, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Anatoliy Kobzar remains in custody at Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 2 in Simferopol (Akmesdzhit). The Russian Federation accuses him under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('state treason'). The article prescribes a penalty of up to 20 years of imprisonment. Human rights organizations consider the prosecution politically motivated.

Kolchenko Oleksandr

Detention: On May 16, 2014, in Simferopol, Oleksandr Kolchenko was detained by FSB officers. According to him, he was merely near the building where the FSB was surveilling Sentsov. After his arrest, he was interrogated and beaten for several hours but remained silent. For nine months, meetings with Ukrainian consuls were prohibited, citing 'Russian citizenship.' Eventually, even the General Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation acknowledged Kolchenko as a Ukrainian citizen in response to a parliamentary inquiry. On May 23, he was transferred to Moscow. Charges: participation in a 'terrorist group,' arson of the 'United Russia' and 'Russian Community of Crimea' offices, preparation to blow up the Lenin monument and the 'Eternal Flame' memorial. Sentence: On August 25, 2015, the North Caucasus District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Kolchenko to 10 years in prison, two years less than the prosecution demanded. Together with Sentsov, he sang the Ukrainian anthem in the courtroom. He served his sentence in Correctional Colony No. 6 in Kopeysk, Chelyabinsk region. On May 31, 2018, he declared a hunger strike in support of Oleh Sentsov. On September 7, 2019, he returned to Ukraine as part of a large exchange based on the 35-for-35 formula, having spent over 5 years in captivity.

Kolkova Olha

Detention: In November 2023, Olha Kolkova was detained by officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea, accused of allegedly collaborating with Ukrainian intelligence services and preparing sabotage activities on the peninsula. Sentence: On February 26, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Olha Kolkova to 15 years in prison on fabricated charges of 'state treason,' 'preparation for a terrorist act,' and 'training for terrorist activities.'

Kolomiiets Andrii

Arrest: On May 15, 2015, 22-year-old Andrii Kolomiiets, a native of Kyiv region and Euromaidan activist, was detained in the village of Yantarnoye, Prokhladnensky District, Kabardino-Balkaria. He had traveled there to meet his future wife Halyna, whom he met online in the video game 'Tanks'. During a search, 152 grams of 'wild cannabis' were 'found', and Andrii was forced to open the package himself. 'I realized that was it,' he recalls. At the 'E Center' (Department for Countering Extremism of the Ministry of Internal Affairs) in Nalchik, he was held for about a day and tortured with electric shocks: tied to a chair, clamps were attached to his fingers and toes, and current was passed through. 'They attached wires to my fingers and toes, and it shook for quite a while,' he said. They obtained his signature on blank A4 sheets. As soon as he was released, he was detained again and put in a taxi with...

Kolomiiets Svitlana

Detention: On April 23, 2026, officers of the Federal Security Service of Russia detained Svitlana Kolomiiets. Following her detention, she was placed in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol, where she remains in custody. Sentence: As of July 19, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Svitlana Kolomiiets is held in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. The Russian Federation accuses her under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“treason”). The maximum penalty under this article is up to 20 years of imprisonment. Human rights defenders consider the criminal prosecution politically motivated.

Kolyada Dmytro

Detention: August 2025, detained by Russian security forces. Sentence: As of July 19, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Dmytro Kolyada is held in pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Simferopol (Akmesdzhit). There is no official information on the charges in open sources. Human rights defenders consider him a victim of politically motivated persecution.

Kopylo Ihor

Arrest: In 2023, Ihor Kopylo was detained by officers of the Russian Federation's FSB in occupied Sevastopol after receiving a parcel allegedly containing about 2 kilograms of plastic explosives, a military electric detonator, and an electric igniter. Sentence: On October 4, 2024, the Russian-controlled Sevastopol City Court sentenced Ihor Kopylo on charges of 'state treason' and illegal handling of explosives. He was sentenced to 14 years in a strict regime penal colony with an additional one-year restriction of freedom and a fine of 400,000 rubles.

Korchynskyi Ihor

Detention: In July 2023, Ihor Korchynskyi was detained by FSB officers of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea. He was accused of allegedly preparing a terrorist act — an attempt on the life of the Kremlin-controlled 'head of the Republic of Crimea', Sergey Aksyonov. Sentence: On August 21, 2024, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Ihor Korchynskyi to 18 years of imprisonment, with the first 4 years to be served in prison. The remainder of the term is to be served in a high-security penal colony. He was also fined 350,000 rubles.

Kostiuk Oleksandr

Detention: On March 5, 2022, Oleksandr Kostiuk disappeared during a trip to the Sumy region. He traveled to the village of Dzerkalka in the Romny district to assist with civilian evacuations. His car was found abandoned on the road, with documents and personal belongings inside. Witnesses reported a Russian military convoy passing that day. Later, it became known that Russian military personnel took Kostiuk during the convoy's movement and transported him in an armored vehicle. He was held hostage, interrogated, and moved between various detention locations in the Russian Federation. Sentence: As of July 19, 2026, no sentence has been issued for Oleksandr Kostiuk. Open materials from human rights organizations contain no information about any official criminal charges, trial, or sentence against him. Kostiuk has been unlawfully detained by Russia for over four years without access to due legal process. In February 2026, it was reported that he is held in pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Simferopol, incommunicado.

Kostygov Kyrylo

Detention: On July 14, 2025, Kyrylo Kostygov was detained by FSB officers at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport following a check of his mobile phone. Sentence: As of July 19, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Kyrylo Kostygov remains in custody at pre-trial detention centre No. 3 in Moscow. The Russian Federation accuses him under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('treason'), alleging he made money transfers to Ukrainian charitable organizations. Human rights defenders consider the criminal prosecution politically motivated.