Political Prisoners

Smedlyaiev Abibulla

Detention: On February 5, 2025, FSB officers conducted a search at Abibulla Smedlyaiev's home, after which he was detained and taken to the FSB office in Simferopol. Along with him, four other Crimean Tatars were detained as part of the so-called fourth Dzhankoy case of 'Hizb ut-Tahrir'. Sentence: As of July 22, 2026, there is no information on the sentence. The Russian Federation accuses Abibulla Smedlyaiev of participating in the activities of the Islamic political party 'Hizb ut-Tahrir', which the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation has designated as a 'terrorist organization'. Ukrainian and international human rights defenders consider this persecution politically motivated and linked to systemic repression against Crimean Tatars.

Sokolova Yulia

Detention: In July 2023, when Yulia Sokolova was 17, Russian security forces detained her in the occupied Kherson region. According to her grandmother, she was repeatedly taken for questioning. Initially, she was under house arrest. On January 7, 2024, Yulia Sokolova was detained again and taken into custody. Her family did not know her whereabouts for over a month. On February 14, 2024, she was transferred to pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Simferopol. Later, Yulia was moved to a detention facility in Chongar in the occupied Kherson region. Sentence: In April 2025, the occupation Kherson Regional Court sentenced Yulia Sokolova to 9 years in a general regime colony. She was found guilty under Articles 275 of the Russian Criminal Code — 'state treason' and 276 — 'espionage'. The exact date of the verdict was initially undisclosed; the date of April 13, 2025, was confirmed by later reports on the case.

Sotsenko Anna

Detention: On February 5, 2025, following a search of their residence, Russian FSB officers took Anna Sotsenko and her daughter Oksana to an unknown location. For nearly nine months, their whereabouts were concealed from family and the public. Only in November 2025 did human rights defenders determine that both women were held in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol. Sentence: As of July 22, 2026, there is no information on a sentence. The Russian Federation accuses Anna Sotsenko under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code (“state treason”). Human rights organizations consider the case politically motivated, emphasizing that the detention followed a forced disappearance and that proceedings lack transparency and fair trial standards.

Sotsenko Oksana

Detention: On February 5, 2025, following a search, officers of the Russian FSB detained Oksana Sotsenko along with her mother, Anna Sotsenko, and took them to an unknown location. For nearly nine months, their whereabouts were concealed. It was only in November 2025 that it became known they were held in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol. Sentence: As of 22.07.2026, there is no information on a sentence. The Russian Federation accuses Oksana Sotsenko under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code (“state treason”). Human rights organizations consider the criminal prosecution politically motivated and emphasize gross human rights violations, including enforced disappearance and prolonged detention without contact with the outside world.

Khudoley Stanislav

Arrest: On June 22, 2021, FSB officers detained Stanislav Khudoley following operational measures, accusing him of allegedly transmitting military information to the Ukrainian side. Sentence: On December 22, 2022, the Russia-controlled 'Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea' sentenced Stanislav Khudoley to 12 years in a high-security penal colony with an additional year of restricted freedom after release under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('treason'). In March 2023, the appellate court upheld the sentence. As of July 22, 2026, he continues to serve his sentence.

Stashevskyi Viktor

Detention: On June 4, 2019, in occupied Sevastopol, Russian security forces conducted simultaneous searches in at least nine homes of local followers of the religious organization Jehovah's Witnesses. During these searches, Viktor Stashevskyi was detained. The next day, he was released from the detention center under a travel restriction. On May 31, 2019, prior to the searches, an FSB investigator initiated a criminal case against him under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code for 'organizing the activities of an extremist organization.' The charges were solely related to his religious activities as a Jehovah's Witness. The case included testimony from a secret witness. Sentence: On March 29, 2021, the Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol, under the control of the Russian occupation authorities, found Viktor Stashevskyi guilty under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code and sentenced him to 6 years and 6 months in a general regime colony. The court also prohibited him from engaging in educational activities, public speaking, and publications for 7 years, and imposed a 1-year restriction of freedom after his release.

Steshenko Oleksandr

Detention: On April 11, 2018, Oleksandr was traveling through the Chonhar entry-exit checkpoint to occupied Crimea to visit an acquaintance in Alushta. After crossing the administrative border, he was detained by FSB officers. The official reason given was an alleged discrepancy in the passport photo, although Steshenko had previously used the document without issue. After administrative arrest, he was taken from the detention center to an unknown location, and his whereabouts remained unknown for several days. The Ukrainian side reported his abduction, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine demanded that Russia provide information on the whereabouts of the Ukrainian citizen. Subsequently, the FSB announced a criminal case against Steshenko. He was accused of participating in a group allegedly planning to set fire to the house of the Crimean mufti Emirali Ablayev to incite ethnic hatred. According to Russian authorities, Steshenko confessed, but after his release, he stated that all confessions were obtained under torture. He reported that FSB officers beat him daily, used electric shocks, suffocated him with a bag, threatened to kill him, and forced him to incriminate himself and others. The confession video was recorded only after prolonged torture. Sentence: In August 2018, the Russia-controlled Central District Court of Simferopol found Oleksandr Steshenko guilty of setting fire to the Crimean mufti's house and sentenced him to 2 years in a settlement colony. The charge of creating an extremist group was dropped after he allegedly confessed, according to the investigation. Steshenko emphasized after his release that his testimony was entirely fabricated under duress.

Stogniy Oleksiy

Detention: On the night of November 14-15, 2016, he was detained by FSB officers near the Kalanchak checkpoint while leaving occupied Crimea for mainland Ukraine. He was traveling to Kyiv for his daughter's birthday. Russian media claimed Stogniy was a 'colonel of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine' and was detained during an 'agent meeting' in Sevastopol. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine refuted this, stating he had long completed military service and was not an employee of Ukrainian intelligence services. Initially, the FSB alleged Stogniy's involvement in preparing sabotage on infrastructure in occupied Crimea as part of the so-called 'Crimean saboteurs case.' Russian TV channels broadcast a video of his 'confession' to espionage for Ukraine. However, during the trial, charges of sabotage and espionage were not confirmed. Instead, he was charged with illegal acquisition, storage, and transportation of weapons and ammunition, as well as illegal manufacturing and repair of firearms. Sentence: On July 26, 2017, the Russia-controlled Kyiv District Court of Simferopol found Oleksiy Stogniy guilty under Part 1 of Article 222 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, or carrying of weapons, their main parts, and ammunition') and Part 1 of Article 223 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('illegal manufacturing, alteration, or repair of firearms and ammunition'). He was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months of imprisonment. Charges of preparing sabotage and espionage were not included in the sentence.

Strilets Victoria

Detention: On October 3, 2024, Russian security forces detained Victoria Strilets and her daughter Oleksandra in occupied Sevastopol. Their detention was not immediately known; information about the case remained closed for some time. The Russian side claimed that Oleksandra allegedly established contact with Ukrainian intelligence and involved her mother in cooperation. According to the investigation, in September 2023, Oleksandra transmitted photographs of Russian military facilities via Telegram, allegedly taken by Victoria. These claims originate from Russian security structures and cannot be considered independently verified facts. No public statement from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine regarding this case has been recorded in open sources. Sentence: On August 5, 2025, the Russian-controlled Sevastopol City Court found Victoria Strilets guilty under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code (“state treason”) and sentenced her to 12 years in a general regime colony and 1 year of restricted freedom. The trial was held in a closed session. Victoria and her daughter were taken into custody directly in the courtroom. On January 21, 2026, ZMINA reported that the Third Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction of the Russian Federation upheld the sentences of Victoria and Oleksandra Strilets, making the punishment effective.

Strylets Oleksandra

Detention: On October 3, 2024, in occupied Sevastopol, Russian security forces detained Oleksandra Strylets and her mother Viktoria. The detention became known only later, as the Russian side did not publicly disclose the case until the trial concluded. Radio Liberty noted that in 2024, the mother and daughter effectively disappeared from contact, and information about their detention emerged after the verdict was announced. Russian security structures accused Oleksandra Strylets of treason under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code. According to the Russian investigation, in September 2023, she allegedly contacted Ukrainian intelligence representatives and transmitted photographs of Russian military objects via Telegram. The investigation claimed that some photographs were taken by her mother Viktoria, whom Oleksandra allegedly involved in this activity. There is no public confirmation of these claims from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Sentence: On August 5, 2025, the Russian-controlled Sevastopol City Court found Oleksandra Strylets guilty of treason and sentenced her to 12 years in a general regime colony. Her mother, Viktoria Strylets, received the same sentence.

Stukalo Ilya

Detention: Ilya Stukalo was detained in occupied Crimea. The exact date and circumstances of his detention are not fully known from publicly available sources at the time of preparing this material. Sentence: Ilya Stukalo was sentenced by the occupation courts. The specific term and date of the sentence are not recorded in open sources. It is known that he received a suspended sentence for pro-Ukrainian statements.

Sufyanov Alim

Detention: On July 7, 2020, Alim Sufyanov was detained during mass searches by Russian security forces in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Bakhchisaray, Simferopol, and other districts of occupied Crimea. The search at his residence took place in the village of Zaliznychne, Bakhchisaray district. Seven people were detained that day, six of whom, including Sufyanov, were taken into custody. Sentence: On May 17, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Alim Sufyanov to 12 years of imprisonment. He was to serve the first 4 years in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony. The court also imposed 1 year of restricted freedom after release. He was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code. On September 13, 2024, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld the sentence. Alim Sufyanov did not admit guilt for the charges against him.