Political Prisoners

Kashka Arsen

Detention: On March 5, 2024, FSB officers conducted a large-scale wave of searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Dzhankoy and the Dzhankoy district. Following the search, Arsen Kashka was detained along with other Crimean Tatar activists, who are involved in the so-called 'third Dzhankoy Hizb ut-Tahrir case'. Sentence: As of July 18, 2026, no verdict has been issued. Arsen Kashka is accused in the so-called 'third Dzhankoy Hizb ut-Tahrir case'. The Russian Federation charges him with participation in the activities of the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' (part 2 of article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code). Human rights organizations consider the criminal prosecution politically motivated.

Ametov Kazim

Detention: On November 23, 2017, in occupied Crimea, Kazim Ametov was detained by security forces along with three other Crimean Tatars – Bekir Degermendzhi, Asan Chapukh, and Ruslan Trubach. They were accused of extorting Yusuf Aytan, a Turkish citizen. The detainees explained they were merely trying to recover funds stolen from Vedzhie Kashka, a veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement. Vedzhie Kashka, 83, who witnessed the detentions, experienced a health decline on the spot and died in an ambulance. The case became known as the 'Vedzhie Kashka case.' Sentence: In April 2019, an occupation court sentenced Kazim Ametov to a 3-year suspended sentence under Part 2 of Article 163 of the Russian Criminal Code ('extortion'). After serving the suspended sentence, his conviction was lifted in April 2021...

Kestan Eldar

Detention: On July 7, 2023, Russian occupiers detained Crimean Tatar Eldar Kestan, a member of the Partizany local Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people and a resident of Partizany village (now Rykove) in Henichesk district, Kherson region. After his detention, his family was unaware of his whereabouts for over a month. He was held in isolation in occupied Chongar without access to a lawyer, contact with family, or proper legal protection. Sentence: On November 28, 2023, the Russian-controlled so-called 'Henichesk District Court' in the occupied part of Kherson region found Eldar Kestan guilty under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in an armed formation not provided for by federal law') and sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment. After sentencing, he...

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.

Khalilaev Enver

Detention: On March 5, 2024, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Bakhchisaray, Dzhankoy, and the Dzhankoy district of occupied Crimea. Enver Khalilaev was among those detained. Following the search, he was taken into custody and placed in a pre-trial detention centre. Russian investigators accused him of alleged involvement in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Human rights organizations emphasize that the persecution of Crimean Tatars under this article is part of a systematic policy of repression in occupied Crimea. Sentence: On May 21, 2026, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Enver Khalilaev to 14 years and 6 months of imprisonment. He was found guilty in cases related to alleged involvement in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, along with Khalilaev, four other defendants of the 'third Dzhankoy group' received sentences that day. Other convicts were sentenced to 14 to 20 years of imprisonment.

Khalilov Ilman

Detention: Ilman Khalilov is subject to politically motivated persecution by the Russian Federation, with criminal proceedings initiated 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: The Russian authorities associate him with the activities of the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan and pursue him in absentia.

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.

Khalilova Gulsum

Detention: In 2019, the FSB of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case against journalist Gulsum Khalilova, accusing her of participating in the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan. The occupation 'Kyiv District Court of Simferopol' issued an arrest warrant in absentia, placing her on federal and international wanted lists. She is charged under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('participation in an illegal armed formation'). Sentence: As of July 30, 2026, there is no information in open independent sources about a conviction against Gulsum Khalilova. The Russian Federation continues her criminal prosecution in absentia. In January 2025, Rosfinmonitoring added the journalist to the list of 'extremists and terrorists'.

Khayretdinov Seyran

Arrest: On July 7, 2020, Russian security forces searched the home of Seyran Khayretdinov in the village of Bilokamyanka, Bakhchisaray district, occupied Crimea. After the search, he was detained and taken to the illegal FSB office in Simferopol. That day, security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars and detained seven people. Seyran Khayretdinov was charged with participating in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir. Sentence: On May 17, 2023, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation sentenced Seyran Khayretdinov to 12 years in a strict regime colony. He was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code for participating in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist by Russian authorities, and under Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code for allegedly preparing for the violent seizure of power. The first four years of the sentence were to be served in prison, followed by a strict regime colony; the court also imposed one year of restricted freedom.

Khvylka Liliya

Detention: In April 2022, Russian security forces detained Liliya Khvylka after she posted on Instagram about a Russian missile strike on the train station in Kramatorsk. Following her detention, a criminal case was opened against her under the article for allegedly 'spreading fake news about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation' (Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code). Later, she was also charged with illegal possession of narcotics (Article 228.1 of the Russian Criminal Code), although Liliya claims the marijuana was planted during a search. After her detention, she was under house arrest with an electronic bracelet, but in the fall of 2022, she managed to leave occupied Crimea. Sentence: On September 22, 2025, an occupation 'court' in Kerch sentenced Liliya Khvylka in absentia to 5 years and 6 months of imprisonment. The sentence was issued for the combined charges of 'spreading fake news about the Russian army' and 'possession of narcotics.' Liliya stated that she does not acknowledge her guilt, considers the case politically motivated, and has filed an appeal.

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.