Political Prisoners

Aivazov Raim

Detention: On April 17, 2019, Crimean Tatar activist Raim Aivazov was detained by FSB officers while crossing the administrative border between occupied Crimea and mainland Ukraine at the Kalanchak checkpoint. For about twelve hours, his family did not know his whereabouts. Only in the evening was Aivazov able to inform his family that he had been taken to the FSB office in Simferopol. He was charged under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('organization of the activities of a terrorist organization') in the case of the second Simferopol group 'Hizb ut-Tahrir'. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations stated that the case was politically motivated, and that Aivazov was subjected to torture and psychological pressure after his detention. Sentence: On March 10, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in...

Akhtemov Asan

Detention: On the night of September 3-4, 2021, officers of the Russian FSB conducted a search at the house of Crimean Tatar activist and citizen journalist Asan Islyamovich Akhtemov in the village of Levadki near Simferopol. After the search, he was taken to an unknown location, and his relatives did not know his whereabouts for almost ten days. An independent lawyer was not allowed to see him. Later, Asan stated that during the first days after his detention, he was beaten, tortured with electric shocks, taken to the forest, threatened with execution, and forced to sign FSB-prepared 'confessions'. Along with him, his cousin Aziz Akhtemov and the first deputy head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Nariman Dzhelyalov were detained. All three were accused of allegedly sabotaging a gas pipeline in the village of Perevalne. Ukrainian and international human rights defenders stated that the case was politically motivated and fabricated. Sentence: On September 21, 2022, the occupying Supreme Court of Crimea found Asan Akhtemov guilty of sabotage, smuggling, and illegal storage of explosives, sentencing him to 15 years in prison, a fine of 500,000 rubles, and one year of restricted freedom after release. Subsequently, the appellate court increased the sentence, determining that the first three years of the punishment should be served in prison, not immediately in a strict regime colony. Human rights defenders emphasized that the sentence was based on testimonies obtained under torture and did not meet the standards of fair trial.

Akhtemov Aziz

Detention: On September 3, 2021, FSB officers conducted searches in the homes of Crimean Tatar activists in Crimea. After the search, Aziz Refatovich Akhtemov was detained. Along with him, his brother Asan Akhtemov, the first deputy head of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People Nariman Dzhelyalov, and several other Crimean Tatars were detained. Russian authorities accused them of alleged involvement in the explosion of a gas pipeline in the village of Perevalne on August 23, 2021. After his detention, Aziz was held for several days without access to an independent lawyer. He later stated in court that his initial 'confessions' were made under physical and psychological pressure by FSB officers. According to him, he was beaten, threatened, and forced to memorize a prepared text. Sentence: On September 21, 2022, the occupation Supreme Court of Crimea found Aziz Akhtemov guilty of sabotage, illegal storage, and smuggling of explosives, sentencing him to 13 years in a high-security penal colony, a fine of 500,000 rubles, and one year of restricted freedom after release. On May 31, 2023, the appellate military court upheld the sentence. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations stated that the case is politically motivated and linked to the persecution of Crimean Tatar activists following the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and the Crimean Platform summit.

Akimov Charaz

Detention: In late 2024, Russian FSB officers detained Yalta resident Charaz Akimov. According to Russian investigators, between 2023 and 2024, he allegedly maintained a confidential connection with a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and transmitted information about the movements of military equipment and ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Later, the charges were reclassified from 'collaboration with a foreign state on a confidential basis' to 'treason.' Human rights defenders stated that the case was handled with gross violations of the principles of open justice, and the trial itself was conducted in a closed session. Sentence: On November 26, 2024, he was convicted under Part 1 of Article 264 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Repeated driving under the influence'); the sentence is unknown. On April 3, 2025, he was convicted under Article 275.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Confidential cooperation with a foreign state') and sentenced to five years in a general regime correctional colony. On October 6, 2025, the sentence was overturned on appeal, and the case was sent for a new trial, with charges changed to 'treason.' On March 13, 2026, the illegal 'Supreme Court of Crimea' sentenced him to 18 years and 20 days in a strict regime colony, plus one year and ten months of restricted freedom after release. Human rights defenders called this decision politically motivated.

Kruglov Albert

Detention: On November 16, 2022, Albert Kruglov, a resident of Alushta, was detained by FSB officers at the bus station in Simferopol. Russian authorities accused him of allegedly preparing to join the Ukrainian unit 'Azov' and 'preparing for high treason.' Sentence: On October 4, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Albert Kruglov to 8 years in a strict regime colony, with the first three years to be served in prison.

Bariev Ali

Detention: On April 26, 2018, in occupied Crimea (Bilohirsk), Russian security forces conducted extensive searches at 33 locations, including the stores of the Crimean retail chain 'Guzel' and the distribution company 'KrymOpt', as well as the homes of entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and activists of the Crimean Tatar movement. Searches were conducted at the homes of Ali Bariev, Asan Bariev, the Velilyaev brothers, and their adult children. After an interrogation lasting over three hours at the Investigative Committee of Russia for Crimea, Ali Bariev and Resul Velilyaev were arrested and unlawfully transferred from Crimea to Moscow's Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre. Sentence: Bariev and Velilyaev were charged under Article 238 of the Russian Criminal Code ('storage or sale of goods not meeting safety requirements, by a group of persons by prior conspiracy'; up to 6 years...

Karimov Alim

Arrest: On March 27, 2019, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol and detained Crimean Tatar activist Alim Karimov. Following the search, he was arrested as part of the so-called 'second Simferopol group of the Hizb ut-Tahrir case,' accused of alleged participation in the activities of an organization Russia has designated as terrorist. Sentence: On January 10, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Alim Karimov to 13 years of imprisonment. The first five years are to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony. Additionally, a year and a half of restricted freedom is imposed after release.

Alimov Refat

Detention: On April 18, 2016, FSB officers conducted searches in the homes of six Crimean Tatars and detained Refat Alimov as part of the so-called 'Yalta Hizb ut-Tahrir case'. Along with him, Emir-Usein Kuku, Muslim Aliyev, Vadim Siruk, Arsen Dzhepparov, and Inver Bekirov were also detained. Human rights defenders consider the case politically motivated. Sentence: On November 12, 2019, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don unlawfully sentenced Refat Alimov to 8 years in a high-security penal colony and 1 year of restricted freedom after release. He was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization') and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code ('preparation for violent seizure of power'). On June 25, 2020, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation upheld the sentence without...

Alivapov Mueddin

Detention: On January 23, 2016, in Alupka and Simeiz on the southern coast of Crimea, three local residents were detained: Mueddin Alivapov, Sergey Kudryashov, and Vyacheslav Butnik. They were accused of arson attacks on cars in Greater Yalta — a total of 12 cars burned in January 2016. Notably, the arsons did not stop after their detention; a resident of Chelyabinsk was also arrested in the same case. Sentence: On January 18, 2018, the Russia-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea upheld Mueddin Alivapov's sentence of 4.5 years in a settlement colony and ordered compensation to the victims amounting to three million rubles. In comparison, the sentences for other defendants in the same case were reduced — Kudryashov to 3 years, Butnik to 2.5 years. After serving his sentence, Alivapov was released. Mueddin Alivapov...

Aliyev Murat

Arrest: On August 6, 2015, Murat (Murad) Aliyev was walking down a street in Crimea when three men in civilian clothes greeted him and put him in a car. He was taken to the Central District Department of Internal Affairs, where he was accused of robbery—allegedly attacking a person and taking a phone. At 2 a.m., he was transferred to a temporary detention facility, and in the morning, the court chose a preventive measure—imprisonment in the Simferopol pre-trial detention centre. Sentence: On the advice of a lawyer, who explained that fighting was pointless, Aliyev agreed to plead guilty for a lesser sentence. The prosecutor requested 3.5 years, the judge sentenced him to 2.5 years of imprisonment. After six months, he was transferred to Kerch Correctional Colony No. 2. After serving this sentence, he faced new charges under Article 280 of the Russian Criminal Code ('incitement to extremism') and Article 282...

Aliyev Rinat

Detention: On August 11, 2022, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Dzhankoy district of occupied Crimea. Following the search, Rinat Ablyatifovich Aliyev was detained. Along with him, Russian security forces detained several other Crimean Tatars in the so-called 'Dzhankoy Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' He was charged under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('organizing the activities of a terrorist organization') and Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code ('violent seizure of power'). Ukrainian human rights organizations emphasized that the case is political, with charges traditionally based on religious conversations, expert conclusions, and anonymous witness testimonies. Sentence: On November 26, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced him to 15 years of imprisonment. 3...

Aliyeva Elviza

Detention: On October 15–16, 2025, Russian security forces detained her along with three other Crimean Tatar women: Esma Nimetulaeva, Fevziye Osmanova, and Nasiba Saidova. Sentence: As of September 6, 2026, Elviza Aliyeva remains in custody, with her case under investigation. She is charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code — "participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist under Russian Federation law." This refers to alleged involvement with "Hizb ut-Tahrir." Human rights advocates view the prosecution of Crimean Tatars under this article as part of a systematic policy of repression in the occupied peninsula.