Political Prisoners

Tazhibayev Mirzaali

Detention: On February 5, 2025, Russian security forces searched Mirzaali Tazhibayev's home, detained him, and took him to the FSB office in Simferopol. He was one of five Crimean Tatars detained that day as part of a new wave of repression against Muslims in Crimea. Sentence: As of July 22, 2026, there is no information on the sentence. The Russian Federation accuses Mirzaali Tazhibayev under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code (“participation in the activities of a terrorist organization”), claiming he was allegedly a member of the organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir.” Ukrainian and international human rights defenders emphasize that the case is politically motivated and part of systematic persecution of Crimean Tatars.

Abdullaev Teimur

Arrest: On October 12, 2016, Russian FSB officers conducted a series of searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol. Following the search, Teimur Abdullaev was detained along with his brother Uzeir Abdullaev, Rustem Ismailov, Emil Dzhemadenov, and Ayder Saliev. They were all accused of involvement in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia considers terrorist, although it operates legally in Ukraine. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations have called the case politically motivated and

Umerov Amethan

Detention: On August 24, 2023, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatar activists in Bakhchisarai. After the search, Amethan Umerov was detained and taken to the occupation FSB office. That same day, the Kyiv District 'court' of Simferopol imposed a pre-trial detention measure on him. Sentence: As of July 22, 2026, there is no information on the verdict. The Russian Federation accuses Amethan Umerov under part 2 of article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization'), alleging he was a member of 'Hizb ut-Tahrir'. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations consider the case politically motivated and link it to systemic repression against Crimean Tatars.

Umerov Ilmi

Detention: On May 12, 2016, FSB officers detained Ilmi Umerov and initiated a criminal case against him under Part 2 of Article 280.1 of the Russian Criminal Code (“public calls for actions aimed at violating the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation”). The basis was his interview with ATR TV channel, where he stated that Russia should leave Crimea and Donbas, and the occupied territories should be returned to Ukraine. The Russian side claimed these statements called for violating Russia's territorial integrity, while Umerov emphasized that he was expressing a position consistent with international law and Ukraine's official stance. He also noted that his words were deliberately mistranslated and misinterpreted. Sentence: On September 27, 2017, the Russia-controlled Simferopol District Court found Ilmi Umerov guilty under Part 2 of Article 280.1 of the Russian Criminal Code and sentenced him to 2 years in a settlement colony with a ban on public activities for 2 years after release. In his final statement, he declared he did not acknowledge guilt, highlighted the illegality of Crimea's occupation, and said, “See you in The Hague.”

Abdullaev Uzeir

Arrest: On October 12, 2016, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol. Following the search, Uzeir Abdullaev was detained along with his brother Teymur Abdullaev, Rustem Ismailov, Emil Dzhemadenov, and Ayder Saliev. They were all accused of participating in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as terrorist, although it is not banned in Ukraine. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations stated from the outset that the case is political.

Vasiutin Oleksii

Detention: Oleksii Vasiutin is a Ukrainian citizen persecuted by the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea in a criminal case related to alleged illegal acquisition and storage of explosives. Detailed circumstances of the detention have not been disclosed in open human rights sources. It is known that the case was heard in courts controlled by Russia in occupied Crimea. Sentence: On September 18, 2024, Oleksii Vasiutin was sentenced to 6 years in prison and fined 350,000 Russian rubles by the Southern District Military Court (Rostov-on-Don). The report stated that the charges included alleged preparation of a terrorist act against an FSB officer, state treason.

Velilyaev Resul

Arrest: On April 26, 2018, Russian security forces conducted extensive searches in the stores of the 'Guzel' retail chain, at the warehouses of the 'KrymOpt' company, and at Velilyaev's home in Bilohirsk. Following the searches, Resul Velilyaev and the director of 'KrymOpt', Ali Bariyev, were detained and secretly transported from occupied Crimea to Moscow, where they were placed in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre. Velilyaev was charged under Part 2 of Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code ('production, storage, or sale of goods and products that do not meet safety requirements'). The formal basis was allegedly expired products found in the stores. However, human rights activists and representatives of the Crimean Tatar community stated that the scale of the operation and the transfer to the FSB's Lefortovo detention centre did not correspond to the nature of the charges and indicated a political motive for the persecution. Sentence: There is no information in open sources about a conviction against Resul Velilyaev. He was held in Moscow's Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre for almost a year during the pre-trial investigation. On April 24, 2019, he was released under a travel restriction. After his release, he remained in Moscow until the completion of investigative actions.

Abdulkadyrov Vladlen

Arrest: On March 27, 2019, in occupied Crimea, FSB officers conducted extensive searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol and nearby villages Kamyanka, Stroganivka, and Bila Skelya. After the search, Vladlen Abdulkadyrov was detained along with more than twenty other Crimean Tatars in the so-called 'second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' He was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization'). In Ukraine, the activities of 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' are not prohibited.

Voinarovskyi Serhii

Detention: August 2, 2022, Kakhovka District, Kherson Region. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, no sentence is available in open sources. Serhii Voinarovskyi is unlawfully detained by the Russian Federation and charged under Part 3 of Article 30 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Attempted crime'), Part 2 of Article 205.4 ('Participation in a terrorist community'), and Part 1 of Article 361 ('Act of international terrorism'). Human rights defenders consider his prosecution politically motivated.

Bodnar Volodymyr

Detention: In February 2024, Russian security forces detained Ukrainian citizen Volodymyr Bodnar in occupied Crimea. He became the third figure in a case where the Russian side claimed an alleged plot to assassinate the Russian-appointed 'head' of occupied Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov. Alongside Bodnar, Volodymyr Ananyev and Oksana Shevchenko were also implicated. It is not possible to independently verify the Russian investigation's claims regarding the case circumstances. Sentence: On June 23, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced 51-year-old Volodymyr Bodnar to 13 years of imprisonment. The first three years are to be served in prison, followed by ten years in a strict regime colony. The court also imposed a fine of 500,000 rubles. The Russian side found him guilty of preparing for...

Maladyka Volodymyr

Arrest: On October 1, 2020, officers of the Russian Federation's FSB conducted mass searches in the homes of believers of the religious organization 'Jehovah's Witnesses' in occupied Sevastopol. On the same day, Volodymyr Maladyka was detained. Russian authorities initiated a criminal case against him, accusing him of 'organizing the activities of an extremist organization' due to his affiliation with the Jehovah's Witnesses community. Sentence: On October 6, 2022, the Russian-controlled Nakhimovsky District Court of Sevastopol sentenced Volodymyr Maladyka to 6 years in a general regime colony. He was also banned from engaging in educational activities, speaking in the media, and publishing materials online for 7 years. Additionally, a 1-year restriction of freedom was imposed after his release....

Voynarovska Olena

Detention: The exact date of detention is not disclosed in open sources. The persecution became public knowledge in 2024. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Olena Voynarovska remains in custody. Her criminal case is under consideration in the court of first instance. The Russian side accuses her under Part 4 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal actions with explosives). Human rights defenders note that the case shows signs of politically motivated criminal prosecution.