Political Prisoners

Zhukov Yevhen

Detention: On October 1, 2020, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of believers in Sevastopol. Following this, Yevhen Zhukov, Volodymyr Maladyka, and Volodymyr Sakada were detained. All three were accused of organizing the activities of an extremist organization (Part 1, Article 282.2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation), although the charges were essentially based on conducting peaceful worship services, joint prayers, and Bible readings. Human rights defenders emphasize that the criminal prosecution is solely related to the exercise of the right to freedom of religion. Sentence: On October 6, 2022, the Russian-controlled Gagarinsky District Court of Sevastopol found Yevhen Zhukov guilty and sentenced him to 6 years in a general regime colony. The court also imposed one year of restricted freedom after release. The appellate court upheld the sentence. The human rights project 'Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial' recognized Yevhen Zhukov as a political prisoner, and international organizations viewed the case as an example of persecution for religious beliefs. On April 7, 2025, Yevhen Zhukov fully served the sentence imposed by the Russian court and was released.

Zhytzkyi Petro

Arrest: According to the Russian investigation, at the end of 2022, he allegedly established contact with a representative of the Security Service of Ukraine and became part of an underground group operating in occupied Crimea. The Russian side claims Zhytzkyi received coordinates of weapon and explosive caches, made an improvised explosive device, and monitored former Ukrainian MP Oleh Tsaryov, who has cooperated with Russia since 2014 and was convicted in absentia by a Ukrainian court for crimes against the state. Ukrainian media report that the Russian investigation linked Petro Zhytzkyi to an assassination attempt on Tsaryov in October 2023 in Yalta. The veracity of these accusations cannot be independently verified as the criminal case materials remain inaccessible to the public, and the trial was held behind closed doors. Sentence: On March 11, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Petro Zhytzkyi guilty under several articles of the Russian Criminal Code, including state treason, training for terrorist activities, attempted assassination of a public figure, illegal possession of explosives and weapons, and manufacturing an improvised explosive device. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison: the first 5 years in prison, the remainder in a high-security colony. He was also fined 800,000 Russian rubles and subjected to further restrictions on freedom. Ukrainian media emphasize that the case was based solely on Russian investigation materials, with no independent verification of evidence conducted.

Ziyadinov Emil

Detention: On July 7, 2020, in the settlement of Oktyabrske (Krasnogvardeysky district), temporarily occupied Crimea, Emil was detained at his home by FSB officers. He was accused of organizing a cell of the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned and recognized as a terrorist organization in Russia since 2003. Before 2014, the organization had thousands of supporters among Crimean Muslims and held public events, now it operates freely in Ukraine and most European countries. Sentence: On April 19, 2022, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Emil Ziyadinov to 17 years in prison. He was found guilty of organizing activities of the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization and allegedly preparing for the violent seizure of power. On November 7, 2022, the Appeal...

Ziza Bohdan

Arrest: On May 16, 2022, Ukrainian artist and activist Bohdan Ziza was detained by officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of the Russian Federation in occupied Crimea, in the city of Yevpatoria, following a protest action where he poured yellow and blue paint on the local administration building and threw a Molotov cocktail at it. He was then taken to an FSB office and later placed in a pre-trial detention centre in Simferopol. Russian authorities classified his actions as a criminal offense related to a 'terrorist act' and 'vandalism', also attributing political motivation. Sentence: On June 6, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Bohdan Ziza to 15 years in a high-security penal colony. The initial years of the sentence are to be served in prison, followed by time in a colony. Russian authorities classified his actions as a 'terrorist act', 'vandalism', and 'calls for terrorism', while Ukrainian human rights organizations view the case as politically motivated and linked to persecution for his pro-Ukrainian stance.

Zorin Ihor

Detention: On May 3, 2023, the Federal Security Service of Russia announced the detention of Ihor Zorin. Russian authorities claimed he was part of a group planning explosions in Crimea on the orders of Ukrainian special services. Sentence: As of July 18, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Ihor Zorin remains in custody. The Russian Federation accuses him under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('treason'), Part 2 of Article 205 ('terrorist act'), Part 2 of Article 205.4 ('participation in a terrorist community'), and Part 4 of Article 222.1 ('illegal handling of explosives'). The case is under consideration by the court of first instance.