Political Prisoners

Umerov Ayder

Detention: In April 2022, Ayder Umerov, a resident of the village of Rykove in the Henichesk district of Kherson region, was detained by representatives of the Russian occupying forces. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, after a search of his home, he was taken from Kherson region to occupied Crimea and placed in the Simferopol pre-trial detention centre. His abduction became known on May 27, 2022. The exact circumstances and date of detention in available Ukrainian human rights sources differ from the version of the Russian security agencies. The Russian side claimed that Umerov was detained while attempting to enter Crimea from Kherson region. Ukrainian human rights activists reported his abduction after a search at his residence. Sentence: On September 2, 2022, the occupying Kyiv District Court of Simferopol sentenced Ayder Umerov under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation to 5 years of imprisonment in a strict regime colony, with the first year to be served in prison. On February 1, 2023, the Supreme Court of occupied Crimea upheld the sentence.

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.”

Umerov Shaban

Detention: Shaban Umerov was detained on March 27, 2019, following mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Kamyanka and Stroganovka neighborhoods of Simferopol. On that day, Russian security forces conducted a large-scale operation against Crimean Tatar activists, detaining over 20 people. Umerov was placed in custody as part of the so-called 'second Simferopol group' in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case. Sentence: On March 10, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Shaban Umerov to 18 years of imprisonment. The first 5 years were to be served in prison, with the remainder in a high-security penal colony. After release, the court imposed 1 year and 6 months of restricted freedom. He was found guilty under Part 1 of Article 205.5 and Part 1 of Article 30, Article 278 of the Russian Criminal Code. On March 28, 2023, the Military Appeals Court upheld the sentence. In October 2024, the Southern District Military Court separately confirmed that the prison administration had misinterpreted the sentence regarding Umerov's time in prison: taking into account the time already served, he was to spend no more than one year there.

Ursu Oleksandr

Detention: On April 28, 2026, officers from the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation and other Russian security agencies conducted a search at the home of Oleksandr Petrovych Ursu in Dzhankoi (temporarily occupied Crimea). Following the search, a criminal case was initiated against him under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“organization of the activities of an extremist organization”). The basis for this was his religious beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness. Unlike his son Viktor Ursu, Oleksandr was not taken into custody; however, the court imposed a preventive measure prohibiting certain actions. Human rights defenders emphasize that the persecution is solely related to the peaceful practice of religion. Sentence: As of July 27, 2026, no guilty verdict has been issued against Oleksandr Ursu. He remains an accused, and the criminal case is in the pre-trial investigation stage. The preventive measure remains a prohibition of certain actions.

Ursu Viktor

Detention: On July 28, 2023, Russian security forces searched Viktor Ursu's home in Dzhankoy. During the search, he was detained. According to human rights defenders, after his detention, he spent 12 days in a temporary detention facility. A criminal case under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code was initiated on August 7, 2023, and on August 9, 2023, the occupation court imposed house arrest as a preventive measure. Sentence: On September 8, 2025, the occupation Dzhankoy District Court found Viktor Ursu guilty under Part 1 of Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code — 'organization of the activities of an extremist organization' — and sentenced him to 6 years in a general regime colony. After release, the court imposed 1 year of restricted freedom. He was also banned for 5 years from engaging in activities related to leadership and participation in religious organizations, educational activities, public speaking, media publications, and posting materials online. On the day of the verdict, Ursu was taken into custody directly in the courtroom.

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.

Vaitov Rustem

Detention: On January 23, 2015, security forces conducted a search at Rustem Vaitov's home, resulting in his unlawful detention as part of the so-called first Bakhchisaray case of Hizb ut-Tahrir. Along with him, Enver Mamoutov, Remzi Memetov, and Zevri Abseitov were detained. Human rights defenders emphasize that the case is politically motivated and part of systemic persecution of Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea. Sentence: On September 7, 2016, Rustem Vaitov was sentenced to 5 years in a general regime colony without evidence of guilt. He is serving his sentence in Kurgan, far from his family and daughter, who needs her father more than anyone else. After serving his full term, Rustem Vaitov was released on February 11, 2025.

Valeyev Oleg

Detention: March 2023, following administrative punishment for publications criticizing Russia's war against Ukraine, a criminal case was initiated against Oleg Valeyev under Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('repeated discrediting of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation'). During the investigation, he was under a travel ban. Sentence: On November 2, 2023, the Russia-controlled Feodosia City Court found Oleg Valeyev guilty under Part 1 of Article 280.3 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in a settlement colony, with a prohibition on administering internet resources for three years.

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.

Veliev Erol

Detention: On May 4, 2024, Crimean Tatar activist Erol Veliev was detained by Moldovan border and anti-terrorism services at Chisinau airport upon arrival. The reason was that the Russian Federation had placed him on its wanted list in 2018, accusing him of allegedly creating an 'extremist-terrorist organization' in occupied Crimea. After verification, Moldovan authorities determined the political nature of the persecution, found no record of him in the Interpol database, and released him the same day. Sentence: The Russian Federation continues to consider him a person on its 'national wanted list,' but international law enforcement agencies do not seek him.

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.

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.