Political Prisoners

Suleimanov Ruslan

Detention: On March 26, 2019, Ruslan Suleimanov was detained at the administrative border with occupied Crimea at the 'Kalanchak' checkpoint and held for about seven hours. The next day, he was arrested as part of the so-called 'second Simferopol group' in the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' case. On March 27, 2019, following mass searches of Crimean Tatar activists' homes in the Kamyanka and Strohanivka neighborhoods of Simferopol. Sentence: On November 24, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Ruslan Suleimanov to 14 years in prison. He was to serve the first 4 years in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony, followed by 1 year of restricted freedom. The court found him guilty of 'terrorist activities' and 'preparation for violent seizure of power.' Suleimanov did not plead guilty. On February 1, 2024, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld the sentence.

Suleymanov Amet

Detention: On March 11, 2020, Russian security forces searched Amet Suleymanov's home in Bakhchisarai and detained him. He became a figure in the so-called third Bakhchisarai group in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case. Russian authorities charged Suleymanov under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code for participation in the activities of an organization recognized as terrorist in Russia, and under Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code for alleged preparation for violent seizure of power. On March 12, 2020, the Russian-controlled Kyiv District Court of Simferopol placed him under house arrest due to a severe heart condition. This was the first instance in Hizb ut-Tahrir criminal cases in occupied Crimea where house arrest was chosen over detention. Sentence: On October 29, 2021, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Amet Suleymanov to 12 years in prison. According to the sentence, he was to spend the first 3 years and 6 months in prison, followed by serving the remainder in a strict regime colony. Additionally, 1 year of restricted freedom was imposed.

Suleymanov Eskender

Arrest: On June 10, 2019, in occupied Crimea, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Simferopol, Bilohirsk, and Alushta districts. In the village of Strohanivka, Simferopol district, a search took place at the Suleymanov family home. Following the search, Eskender Suleymanov was detained along with his younger brother Ruslan. Eskender Suleymanov was charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code for 'participation in the activities of a terrorist organization,' as well as under Part 1 of Article 30 and Article 278 for allegedly preparing to seize power by force. The criminal prosecution was related to the Hizb ut-Tahrir case. Human rights organizations consider such cases to be politically motivated. Sentence: On March 18, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Eskender Suleymanov to 15 years of imprisonment. He was to spend the first 5 years in prison, followed by serving the remainder in a strict regime colony. After release, he was also assigned 1 year of restricted freedom. On July 7, 2023, the appellate court upheld the sentence, thereby enforcing the punishment imposed by the Russian court.

Suleymanov Redvan

Arrest: On July 30, 2016, FSB officers detained Redvan Suleymanov at Simferopol airport. For nearly two weeks, his whereabouts were unknown. Only on August 12, 2016, did the FSB release a video of his interrogation along with footage of Yevhen Panov and Andriy Zakhtey, claiming to have uncovered a 'Ukrainian sabotage group' in occupied Crimea. According to Russian security services, Suleymanov allegedly cooperated with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, was to obtain a Russian passport, work at Simferopol airport or bus station, gather information on military sites, and find locations for planting explosive devices. These claims later formed the basis of the FSB's information campaign regarding the so-called 'Crimean saboteurs case.' Sentence: On August 10, 2017, the Russian-controlled Railway District Court of Simferopol found Redvan Suleymanov guilty of knowingly false reporting of an act of terrorism committed by a group of persons (part 2, article 207 of the Russian Criminal Code) and sentenced him to 1 year and 8 months in a general regime colony. Additionally, the court ordered him to pay over 3.7 million rubles in compensation for alleged damages to the Kerch ferry, Simferopol airport, Sevastopol bus station, and Russian emergency services.

Suleymanov Yunus

Detention: On February 12, 2025, FSB officers searched Yunus Suleymanov's home and subsequently detained him, transporting him to Simferopol. The following day, an occupation court ordered his detention. Sentence: As of July 22, 2026, there is no final verdict. The Russian Federation accuses Yunus Suleymanov of alleged involvement with the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which the Russian Supreme Court has designated as a 'terrorist organization.' Ukrainian and international human rights advocates consider the case politically motivated, linking it to systematic repression against Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea.

Tairov Rustem

Detention: On August 17, 2021, in occupied Crimea, Russian security forces conducted a series of searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Simferopol and Bakhchisaray districts of Crimea, as well as in the Balaklava and Nakhimovsky districts of Sevastopol. Following the searches, five Crimean Tatars were detained, including Rustem Tairov. He was taken to the FSB office in occupied Crimea and Sevastopol. Sentence: On May 31, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Rustem Tairov to 12 years in prison. The first 4 years were to be served in prison, with the remainder in a strict regime colony. After release, the court imposed 1 year of restricted freedom. Tairov was found guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. On November 20, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal upheld the sentence.

Tarapon Oleksandr

Detention: Oleksandr Tarapon, a resident of Alushta and a Ukrainian citizen, openly expressed his anti-war stance following the full-scale Russian invasion. On March 31, 2022, he wrote on the fence of a relative's house, who participated in the war against Ukraine as part of Russian forces, the words: 'A war criminal, a child killer, lives here,' and posted anti-war leaflets nearby. The homeowners then filed a complaint with the Russian police. In March 2022, Oleksandr was detained by Russian law enforcement. Initially, an administrative protocol was drawn up against him, but later a criminal case was initiated under Part 1 of Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('public dissemination of knowingly false information about the use of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation'). For...

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

Tereshchenko Kostyantyn

Detention: On June 18, 2022, Kostyantyn Tereshchenko was detained by Russian occupying forces in the village of Novooleksiivka, Henichesk district, Kherson region. According to human rights defenders, a car and a minibus marked with 'Z' and a group of armed individuals arrived at his home. After a search, he was taken from the yard, brought to a basement used for illegal detention and torture, and later transferred to a pre-trial detention centre in occupied Crimea. Sentence: On December 9, 2022, the occupying Dzhankoy District Court of Crimea found Kostyantyn Tereshchenko guilty under part 2 of article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code for 'participation in an armed formation on the territory of a foreign state not provided for by the legislation of that state.' He was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in a strict regime colony. The Russian side claimed that Tereshchenko allegedly voluntarily joined the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan in 2016 and performed duties of checking people and vehicles at checkpoints between Kherson region and occupied Crimea. On December 9, 2022, the occupying Dzhankoy District Court issued a guilty verdict against Tereshchenko. He was sentenced to 4 years and 3 months in a strict regime colony.

Tymoshenko Nina

Detention: In September 2024, in occupied Sevastopol, FSB officers detained 66-year-old local resident Nina Tymoshenko. Following her detention, she was placed in a pre-trial detention centre and criminal proceedings were initiated under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation for 'state treason'. The exact date of detention is not specified in available human rights sources. Sentence: On March 21, 2025, the occupation Sevastopol City Court found Nina Tymoshenko guilty under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced her to 16 years in a general regime colony, a fine of 200,000 rubles, and 1 year of restricted freedom after release. On May 13, 2025, the Third Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction upheld the sentence. On February 24, 2026, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation also upheld the sentence, making the decision final.

Umerov Amethan

Detention: On August 24, 2023, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatar activists in Bakhchisaray. After the search, Amethan Umerov was detained and taken to the occupation FSB office. On the same day, the Kyiv District 'court' of Simferopol imposed a pre-trial detention measure on him. 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'), claiming he was allegedly a member of the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir'. Sentence: On October 21, 2026, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don issued guilty verdicts to six Crimean Tatars, defendants of the so-called 'fifth Bakhchisaray group' in the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir case'. The men were sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 15 to 19 years in high-security colonies. Amethan was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Ukrainian and international human rights defenders consider the case politically motivated and link it to systemic repressions against Crimean Tatars.