Political Prisoners

Petrushyn Yevhen

Detention: On April 20, 2021, Russian security forces detained Yevhen Petrushyn, a resident of occupied Sevastopol. The following day, the unlawful 'Leninsky District Court of Sevastopol' ordered his detention until June 19, 2021. On April 22, the FSB of Russia released a video of the detention, claiming Petrushyn allegedly collected and transmitted information about the activities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet to the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Russian authorities charged him under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code — 'treason.' Ukrainian human rights advocates emphasize that Russia's application of this article to residents of occupied Crimea results from the unlawful imposition of Russian citizenship and violates international humanitarian law. In June 2021, Yevhen Petrushyn was unlawfully transferred from Sevastopol to Moscow, where the Lefortovo Court repeatedly extended his detention. Sentence: On December 19, 2022, the Russia-controlled 'Sevastopol City Court' sentenced Yevhen Petrushyn to 12 years in prison under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code — 'treason.' According to the Russian FSB, in 2020–2021, he allegedly transmitted information about the activities of the Russian Black Sea Fleet to Ukrainian intelligence. The details of the case, evidence, and Petrushyn's position are not disclosed in open human rights materials. CrimeaSOS considers Yevhen Petrushyn's case as politically motivated persecution of Ukrainian citizens in occupied Crimea.

Pidvalnyi Viktor

Detention: Viktor was detained on May 5, 2023, in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea (temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine). Following his detention, he was placed in custody as part of a criminal case that the FSB of the Russian Federation called a case of preparing attacks on representatives of the occupation administration of Crimea. Sentence: As of July 21, 2026, no final sentence has been issued. The Russian Federation accuses Viktor Pidvalnyi under articles Art. 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“State treason”), Part 4 Art. 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, forwarding, or carrying of explosives or explosive devices, committed by a group of persons”), Part 3 Art. 226.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Smuggling of an explosive device, committed by an organized group”), Part 1 Art. 205.4 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Organization of a terrorist community and participation in it”), Part 1 Art. 30, para. a Part 2 Art. 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Preparation for committing a terrorist act”) and para. “a”, “b” Part 2 Art. 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“Terrorist act”).

Plachkov Oleh

Detention: On September 25, 2023, Russian military forces detained Oleh Plachkov following the abduction of his wife, Tetiana Plachkova. After his detention, he was held in a basement used by Russian security forces as an illegal place of detention. Sentence: As of July 21, 2026, there is no information on any official charges or sentencing. The Russian side does not officially confirm his place of detention. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center and his family, Oleh Plachkov is held incommunicado, without contact with the outside world, and without access to a lawyer or family.

Platonov Oleh

Detention: On April 9, 2025, Russian security forces detained him during a business trip. On the same day, his wife Nataliya Polyukh was detained in Sevastopol. Their nine-year-old son was removed from the family by Russian guardianship authorities and placed under state supervision. Sentence: As of July 21, 2026, there is no information on formal charges or sentencing. The Russian Federation has not disclosed the legal grounds for the couple's detention. There is no public information on criminal proceedings, a trial, or their place of detention. Human rights advocates consider this an extrajudicial deprivation of liberty and enforced disappearance.

Polyukh Nataliya

Detention: April 9, 2025, Sevastopol, Autonomous Republic of Crimea (temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine). On the same day, her husband, Oleh Platonov, was detained by Russian security forces in Alupka. Following the detention, their nine-year-old son was removed from the family and placed under the supervision of the occupation authorities' guardianship bodies. Sentence: As of July 21, 2026, there is no information on official charges or sentencing. The Russian Federation has not disclosed the legal grounds for Nataliya Polyukh's detention. Information about criminal proceedings, court hearings, or her place of detention remains closed. Human rights organizations classify the case as extrajudicial detention (enforced disappearance).

Prikhodko Oleh

Detention: On October 10, 2019, Russian security forces detained Oleh Prikhodko in occupied Crimea. The day before, on October 9, he was forcibly placed in a vehicle and held overnight at an FSB building. The following day, security forces searched his home and garage, where they allegedly found explosives according to Russian investigators. Prikhodko's wife, Lyubov Prikhodko, was also detained but later released. Prikhodko denied the charges, claiming the explosives were planted by FSB officers. Ukrainian human rights defenders pointed out numerous inconsistencies in the case and linked the persecution to the activist's openly pro-Ukrainian stance. Sentence: On March 3, 2021, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Oleh Prikhodko to 5 years in a high-security penal colony, with the first year in prison, and imposed a fine of 110,000 rubles. He was accused of preparing a terrorist act, illegal manufacture of explosives, and preparing to set fire to the Russian Federation's consulate general in Lviv.

Prysych Volodymyr

Arrest: On August 13, 2016, at 11:30, FSB officers detained Volodymyr Prysych, a truck driver from Kharkiv, in Sevastopol, where he arrived in a cargo vehicle via the Kerch ferry crossing. During the arrest, the vehicle was thoroughly inspected, and no drugs were found. Prysych's personal belongings were confiscated, and the truck keys were taken. The vehicle was left in the parking lot of the 'Musson' shopping center without security or sealing. Nine hours later, at 21:15, the FSB conducted a 'vehicle inspection' and 'found' 500 grams of cannabis in the cabin. Prysych was then taken to Simferopol. The defense believes the drugs were planted between the two inspections, which is why FSB investigator Ihor Ihorovych Tyshyn is listed in the human rights violators database as responsible. Sentence: On August 14, 2016, during interrogation as a suspect, Prysych signed a 'confession' typed by the investigator under moral and physical pressure from FSB operatives and the appointed lawyer Petrosyan. Prysych also stated he was forced to record a video confession of 'espionage for Ukraine' after being tortured with electric shocks. On May 18, 2017, the Russian-controlled 'Gagarinsky District Court' in Sevastopol sentenced Prysych to 3 years in a general regime colony under Part 2 of Article 228 of the Russian Criminal Code (drug possession). An appeal hearing was scheduled for August 3, 2017. Prysych served his sentence, and the case was closed on August 15, 2019.

Ramazanov Ismail

Detention: On January 23, 2018, a search was conducted at Ismail Ramazanov's home in the village of Novyi Svit, Simferopol district, Crimea. He was detained the same day. The Investigative Committee of Russia charged him with 'extremism propaganda' for disseminating materials that 'incite interethnic enmity and interreligious hatred' via the internet radio app Zello. Ramazanov was detained during a broader wave of searches in several districts of Crimea. On January 24, the Simferopol District Court of Crimea arrested him for 30 days. During the court session, he could barely stand and claimed that FSB officers had beaten him. The court rejected the defense's requests, including for an ambulance. Sentence: Ismail Ramazanov was held in custody for six months, the maximum allowable pre-trial detention for this category of cases. On July 14, 2018, he was released from the pre-trial detention centre. On January 16, 2019, the criminal case was closed. Later, his name was removed from the Russian 'List of Terrorists and Extremists.'

Razzakov Shevket

Detention: On April 13, 2017, Russian security forces conducted a search at the home of Crimean Tatar activist Seydamet Mustafayev in Bakhchisarai. Local residents and activists gathered outside to observe the actions of the Russian security personnel. Among them was Shevket Razzakov. In May 2017, Shevket was summoned to the Russian Investigative Committee as a witness, but during questioning, he was informed that his procedural status had changed to that of a suspect in a criminal case under Article 319 of the Russian Criminal Code ('public insult of a government representative'). According to the investigation, during the events of April 13, he allegedly insulted a Russian National Guard officer by spitting in his direction and using foul language. Razzakov categorically denied the charges, and his defense emphasized that video recordings of the events did not support the investigation's version and contained no evidence of intentional insult to law enforcement. Sentence: The trial began in late 2017 and was repeatedly postponed due to the absence of prosecution witnesses. On April 24, 2018, the Russian-controlled magistrate's court in Bakhchisarai found Shevket Razzakov guilty of publicly insulting a government representative and imposed a fine of 20,000 Russian rubles. The prosecution had requested a harsher penalty of 300 hours of community service. After the verdict was announced, Razzakov stated his intention to appeal, noting that the charges were based on false testimony and not supported by objective evidence.

Memetov Remzi

Detention: On May 12, 2016, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars, subsequently detaining Remzi Shevkaevich Memetov along with Enver Mamutov, Zevri Abseitov, and Rustem Abiltarov. This case became known as the 'first Bakhchisaray group of the Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' Russian authorities accused him of participating in the activities of the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir,' which is recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia, although it operates legally in Ukraine. The investigation claimed he participated in religious meetings where religious and socio-political issues were discussed. Human rights defenders emphasize that the case is politically motivated and lacks evidence of preparation or commission of violent acts. Sentence: On December 24, 2018, the Southern District Military Court in...

Reshetnichenko Danylo

Detention: On June 10, 2020, Russian security forces detained Danylo Reshetnichenko. On the same day, Andriy Kuliyevych, Mykola Lahutin, and Valentyn Khoroshaiev were also detained. According to the Russian side, in May 2020, Reshetnichenko and other case participants distributed leaflets in public places in Crimea calling for the overthrow of the Russian Federation's government and containing statements interpreted by Russian investigators as justifying such activities. The content of the leaflets was not disclosed by the Russian court. On June 13, 2020, Reshetnichenko was placed under house arrest, later replaced by restrictions on certain actions. Unlike the other three defendants, Reshetnichenko was not accused by the Russian side of directly preparing an explosion. Sentence: On June 16, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Danylo Reshetnichenko to 2 years in a settlement colony under Part 1 of Article 205.2 of the Russian Criminal Code — "public calls for terrorist activities, public justification of terrorism, or propaganda of terrorism." According to the Representation of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, he served his sentence in Settlement Colony No. 1 in Kerch.

Revut Anatolii

Detention: The exact date of detention is not disclosed in open sources. It is known that at the end of 2025, the occupation 'Kyiv District Court' of Simferopol imposed pre-trial detention on Anatolii Revut on fabricated charges of 'state treason'. The arrest became publicly known on December 24, 2025. Sentence: As of July 21, 2026, there is no information about a sentence being issued. The Russian Federation accuses Anatolii Revut under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('state treason'). Human rights defenders emphasize that the case shows signs of politically motivated persecution, and the occupation authorities conceal the details of the charges.