Political Prisoners

Balukh Volodymyr

Detention: After Russia's occupation of Crimea in 2014, Balukh refused Russian citizenship and prominently displayed the Ukrainian flag over his house, with a plaque reading 'Street of the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred 18' on the facade. Due to his pro-Ukrainian stance, he was constantly pressured by the occupation administration. In 2013, he participated in the Euromaidan in Kyiv. On December 8, 2016, FSB officers searched the home of Natalia Balukh, Volodymyr's wife, in the village of Serebryanka, Perekopsky district of Crimea, claiming to have found 89 cartridges and several TNT blocks in the attic. Balukh and his defenders insisted the ammunition was planted. He was detained the same day. Searches of Balukh's property had occurred previously. In June 2016, he was sentenced to 320 hours of community service for 'insulting a government official,' which was later changed to 40 days in a settlement colony.

Barannik Kyrylo

Detention: On May 30, 2023, Kyrylo Barannik was unlawfully detained by FSB officers in Simferopol. Witnesses reported he was seized in broad daylight on the Salgir River embankment, a bag was placed over his head, and he was taken for interrogation. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, no verdict has been issued in the case. Kyrylo Barannik remains in custody awaiting trial at the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. The Russian side accuses him of: Article 205.3 - Undergoing training for terrorist activities; Article 222.1, part 4 - Illegal circulation of explosives committed by a group; Article 226.1, part 3 - Smuggling of explosives by an organized group; Article 205.4, part 2 - Organization of a terrorist group; Article 205, part 2 - Terrorist act committed by a group; Article 275 - High treason.

Barmakin Dmytro

Detention: Dmytro Barmakin, a native of Crimea, entered Russia with his wife Olena, who came to care for her sick mother. In July 2018, a search was conducted at his mother-in-law's house in Vladivostok, after which Barmakin was arrested on charges of "organizing the activities of an extremist organization" (Article 282.2 of the Russian Criminal Code). He spent 447 days in a pre-trial detention centre, over 14 months. After his release, he was under restrictions for two more years: he could not change his residence or communicate with certain individuals. Shortly after his detention, authorities also initiated a criminal case against his wife Olena. Sentence: Barmakin's case went through three court instances. In November 2021, the Pervorechensky District Court of Vladivostok acquitted him—the first such acquittal for a Jehovah's Witness on "extremism" charges in Russia. The court stated: "Conducting religious rites in residential or commercial premises does not violate the law but is an exercise of believers' rights to freedom of conscience and religion." However, in April 2022, the regional court overturned the acquittal and sent the case for a new trial. In April 2023, the same court reviewed the case again in a closed session. On April 28, 2023, Barmakin was sentenced to 8 years in a general regime colony and 1 year of restricted freedom after serving the main term. The prosecutor demanded 9 years—the fifth and harshest sentence for a Jehovah's Witness in Russia at that time. After the verdict was announced, Barmakin was taken into custody directly in the courtroom.

Baturov Marat

Detention: According to eyewitnesses on October 2, 2025, unknown individuals took the man from his apartment, escorted him to his garage, and then transported him to an unknown location. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Marat Baturov is unlawfully held in a pre-trial detention centre. The Russian side has not officially provided complete information on the charges. Human rights defenders consider his persecution politically motivated and classify the case as enforced disappearance followed by unlawful detention.

Bay Asan

Detention: In the occupied part of Kherson region at the 'Chonhar' checkpoint in September 2024, Russian security forces detained 33-year-old Ukrainian citizen, resident of Novodmytrivka village, Henichesk district, Asan Bay. Sentence: As of July 17, 2026, there is no verdict in the case. Asan Bay remains in custody, and the Russian side is conducting a pre-trial investigation. He is accused of participating in the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Çelebicihan, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the Russian Federation. Human rights defenders emphasize that the persecution has political characteristics.

Bazarov Farhod

Arrest: On March 27, 2019, Russian security forces conducted the largest searches at that time in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol and surrounding areas. Farhod Egamberdiyovich Bazarov, a civic activist and participant in the 'Crimean Solidarity' initiative, was among those detained. Along with him, more than two dozen Crimean Tatars were detained as part of the so-called 'second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' Russian investigators accused him of participating in the activities of the 'Hizb ut-Tahrir' organization, which Russia considers terrorist, although it is not banned in Ukraine. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations stated that the case is politically motivated and aimed at suppressing the civic activity of Crimean Tatars. Sentence: On March 10, 2022, the Southern District Military...

Bekhter Halyna

Detention: On October 2, 2025, Russian security forces detained Halyna Hryhorivna Bekhter, a resident of the village of Plodorodne (temporarily occupied part of Zaporizhzhia region). According to Russian investigators, in July 2023, she allegedly made a money transfer to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine via a Ukrainian banking app. A criminal case was initiated against the pensioner under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('treason'). Human rights defenders emphasize that the prosecution is linked to her support for Ukraine and is politically motivated. Sentence: On March 5, 2026, the so-called 'Zaporizhzhia Regional Court', established by the Russian occupation authorities, sentenced Halyna Bekhter to 11 years in a general regime colony followed by 1 year of restricted freedom. After the sentence, she remained in Pre-trial Detention Centre No. 1 in Simferopol, awaiting appeal. The Russian prosecution appealed the sentence, seeking to increase the term to 16 years.

Bekirov Akim

Arrest: On March 27, 2019, during mass searches of Crimean Tatar homes in the Kamyanka and Strohanivka districts of Simferopol, FSB officers detained Akim Ekremovich Bekirov. At that time, he was an active participant in the civic initiative 'Crimean Solidarity,' assisting families of political prisoners, addressing IT security issues, organizing deliveries to pre-trial detention centers, and regularly attending court hearings. Prior to his arrest, Akim had told relatives he noticed surveillance of himself and his home. Russian investigators accused him of participating in the activities of the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir,' banned in Russia but legal in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. Human rights defenders emphasized that the case is politically motivated and part of systemic repression against Crimean...

Bekirov Dzhebbar

Arrest: On August 17, 2021, Russian security forces conducted a series of searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Sevastopol, Simferopol, and Bakhchisaray districts of occupied Crimea. Dzhebbar Seyranovich Bekirov was among those detained. Rustem Murasov, Rustem Tair, Zaur Abdullayev, and Raif Fevziev were also detained. They were all accused of involvement in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has recognized as terrorist, although it is not banned in Ukraine. Human rights defenders stated that the case is politically motivated and is another episode of systemic persecution of Crimean Tatars on religious and civil grounds. Sentence: On May 31, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Dzhebbar Bekirov to 17 years in prison. The first 4 years are to be served...

Bekirov Enver

Arrest: On February 11, 2016, FSB officers conducted a series of searches in Yalta and nearby areas. Enver Bekirov was among those detained, along with Emir-Usein Kuku, Muslim Aliyev, Vadim Siruk, Arsen Dzhepparov, and Refat Alimov. They were accused of involvement with the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, recognized as terrorist in Russia, though not banned in Ukraine. Human rights organizations stated that the case is politically motivated and one of the first large-scale persecutions of Crimean Tatars after Crimea's occupation. Verdict: On November 12, 2019, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Enver Bekirov guilty and sentenced him to 18 years in a high-security colony. The first 5...

Bekirov Remzi

Detention: On March 28, 2019, during the largest raids on Crimean Tatar homes in Simferopol and surrounding villages, Russian FSB officers detained Remzi Ismailovich Bekirov — a citizen journalist, activist of 'Crimean Solidarity,' and correspondent for the online publication 'Grani.ru.' Along with him, more than twenty Crimean Tatars were detained as part of the so-called 'second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case.' Russian investigators accused him of organizing the activities of a terrorist organization, although no evidence of preparation or commission of violent acts was provided. Ukrainian and international human rights defenders called the case politically motivated and linked it to Remzi's active journalistic work and his coverage of repressions in occupied Crimea. Sentence: March 10...

Bektemirov Vadim

Detention: On July 7, 2020, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Simferopol and surrounding areas of occupied Crimea. Vadim Zaidinovich Bektemirov was among those detained. Along with him, Zekirya Muratov, Seyran Saliev, and other figures in the so-called 'Crimean Muslims' case were also detained. Russian investigators accused Bektemirov of participating in the activities of the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir', which is recognized as terrorist in Russia, although its activities are not banned in Ukraine. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations stated that the case is politically motivated and is another example of persecution of Crimean Tatars for their religious beliefs and civic stance. Sentence: On February 11, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don...