Political Prisoners

Ananyev Volodymyr

Detention: On the night of February 2, 2024, in occupied Simferopol. Russian security forces detained Volodymyr Ananyev at an acquaintance's apartment. Officially, the FSB of Russia announced his detention on February 5, 2024, but human rights defenders and Ananyev's wife report that the actual detention occurred earlier, on the night of February 2. After his detention, he was initially charged with illegal acquisition and storage of explosives, later with aiding in the preparation of a terrorist act and preparing an assassination attempt on a representative of the occupying authorities of Crimea, Sergey Aksyonov. Sentence: As of September 6, 2026, Volodymyr Ananyev remains in custody, and his case is being considered by the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. Ananyev denies the charges and claims they are fabricated. In February 2025, the indictment in his case was approved and forwarded to the court. The charges brought by the Russian side threaten him with a long prison term of 10 years.

Apkelyamov Adil

Detention: On January 14, 2025, Russian security forces detained 20-year-old Adil. The Crimean Tatar Resource Center reported his unlawful detention in the temporarily occupied Crimea. According to the Center, Russian forces accused the young Crimean of public calls for extremist and terrorist activities online. It was reported that Apkelyamov allegedly posted messages on Telegram calling for violent actions against individuals of Russian nationality. The criminal prosecution was conducted under Part 2 of Article 280 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code — public calls for extremist activities, and Part 2 of Article 205.2 — public calls for terrorist activities. A human rights project classifies Apkelyamov as a person persecuted for political reasons. Sentence: On September 25, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Adil Apkelyamov guilty under Part 2 of Article 280 and Part 2 of Article 205.2 of the Russian Federation Criminal Code. The court sentenced him to three years in a general regime penal colony. Additionally, Apkelyamov was prohibited from engaging in activities related to website administration and the use of information and telecommunication networks, including the Internet, for three years.

Arifmemetov Osman

Detention: On March 27, 2019, a search was conducted at Osman Arifmemetov's home. The next day, March 28, the Kyiv District Court of Simferopol ordered his detention until May 15, 2019, under charges according to Article 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization'). He faced up to 20 years of imprisonment. After the search, citizen journalist and activist Osman Arifmemetov was detained.

Abkhairov Arsen

Detention: On February 14, 2019, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Krasnohvardiiske district of temporarily occupied Crimea. Following the search, Arsen Abkhairov was detained along with Rustem Emiruseinov and Eskender Abdulganiev. All three were charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code for allegedly participating in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia considers terrorist. In Ukraine, this organization's activities are not prohibited. Human rights organizations have regarded

Asanov Ali

Detention: On April 17, 2015, Russian security forces detained Ali Asanov in connection with the so-called 'February 26 case,' related to a pro-Ukrainian rally near the building of the Verkhovna Rada of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on February 26, 2014. Human rights organizations emphasize that the persecution was politically motivated and targeted Crimean Tatars who supported Ukraine's territorial integrity. Sentence: On June 29, 2018, the Russian-controlled 'Supreme Court of the Republic of Crimea' found Ali Asanov guilty of participating in 'mass riots' (part 2, article 212 of the Russian Criminal Code) and sentenced him to 4 years in a general regime colony. After accounting for time spent in pre-trial detention, he was released on October 30, 2018, having effectively served over three and a half years of imprisonment. Human rights defenders recognized the sentence...

Asanov Ayder

Arrest: On January 24, 2023, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the Dzhankoy district of temporarily occupied Crimea. Ayder Asanov was detained after the search. Along with him, Ekrem Krosh, Osman Abdurazakova, Refat Seydametov, and Leman Zekeryaev were also detained. They were all accused of participating in the activities of the organization "Hizb ut-Tahrir," which Russia considers terrorist, although it is not banned in Ukraine. Human rights organizations emphasized that the case is political and part of systematic repression against Crimean Tatars in occupied Crimea. Sentence: On April 29, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Ayder Asanov 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 ("Preparation for...

Asanov Eduard

Detention: On September 6, 2023, Russian FSB officers searched the home of Crimean Tatar Eduard Aidyrovych Asanov. Following the search, he was detained and accused of participating in an illegal armed formation—the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion. According to Russian investigators, he allegedly was part of the battalion from 2016 to 2018 and failed to inform Russian authorities of his cessation of participation upon returning to Crimea. Eduard denied the charges, explaining that while he had visited the administrative border with Crimea, he was not a serviceman of the battalion and did not engage in its activities. Human rights defenders emphasized that the case is politically motivated and part of a campaign to persecute Crimean Tatars for any connections to the civil blockade of Crimea....

Asanov Marlen (Suleyman)

Detention: On October 12, 2017, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Bakhchisarai. Following the search, citizen journalist and volunteer Marlen (Suleyman) Asanov was detained. Along with him, Timur Ibragimov, Memet Belyalov, Seyran Saliev, Server Zekiryaev, and Ernes Ametov were also detained. They were all charged with involvement 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 that the criminal prosecution is politically motivated and linked to Marlen Asanov's active civic engagement and his participation in the initiative 'Crimean Solidarity'. Sentence: On September 16, 2020, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Marlen...

Audji Eskender

Detention: On July 25, 2023, Russian security forces detained Eskender Serverovich Audji in the village of Novooleksiivka, Henichesk district, Kherson region, which was under Russian military control at the time. After his detention, he was taken to occupied Crimea, where a criminal case was initiated under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in an illegal armed formation'). Russian investigators claimed he was allegedly a member of the Noman Çelebicihan volunteer battalion. Eskender denied these charges. Ukrainian human rights defenders emphasized that the case is politically motivated and exemplifies the application of Russian criminal law to Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories. Sentence: On December 12, 2023, the occupation Henichesk district court of Kherson...

Faizullaev Aziz

Arrest: On June 7, 2022, a search was conducted at the home of Crimean Tatar Aziz Faizullaev in the Feodosia district of Crimea, after which he was detained and taken to a pre-trial detention centre. Following his arrest, occupation media released a video allegedly showing his 'confession' to making two Molotov cocktails and setting fire to the building of the occupation Pushkin Village Council, after breaking a window. Human rights defenders considered this video to be coerced. According to the 'investigation,' on June 5, 2022, Faizullaev, while intoxicated, broke a window of the village council in Pushkine and threw two bottles with incendiary mixture inside. The fire destroyed most of the property in the deputies' room. The 'court' ruling explicitly stated that Faizullaev acted due to 'disagreement with the war in Ukraine, where his...

Azizov Aziz

Detention: On March 5, 2024, in Bakhchisarai, Russian FSB officers detained two journalists covering politically motivated cases in Crimea. Sentence: Not issued. As of September 2, 2026, the case is under trial in the first instance court. Aziz Azizov is charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code — "participation in the activities of a terrorist organization." Russian authorities consider "Hizb ut-Tahrir" a terrorist organization, although it is not banned as such in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. Human rights defenders view the persecution of Crimean Tatars under this article as politically motivated.

Babich Oleksandr

Detention: March 28, 2022, Hola Prystan, Kherson region, temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. Illegally abducted for his pro-Ukrainian stance. Since then, he has been held in Russian captivity as a civilian hostage and political prisoner without any official charges. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, there is no official information on a sentence. The Russian Federation has unlawfully detained Oleksandr Babich for an extended period without charges or access to independent legal counsel. Human rights defenders classify his detention as unlawful imprisonment and enforced disappearance.