Political Prisoners

Dursunov Asan

Detention: On May 3, 2023, Russian security forces detained him in the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region. Following his detention, a criminal case was initiated against him under Part 2 of Article 208 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ('Participation in an armed formation on the territory of a foreign state, not provided for by the legislation of this state, with purposes contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation'). The Russian side claimed that Asan Dursunov was allegedly a member of the Noman Çelebicihan Battalion. He did not admit guilt. Sentence: On November 16, 2023, the occupation court found Asan Dursunov guilty and sentenced him to 3 years and 6 months in a strict regime colony, with the first year to be served in prison. Alongside him, Nariman Derman and Eldar Kestan were also convicted in the same case. Dursunov Asan Yebryshevich is a Crimean Tatar, a resident of the village of Rykove...

Dyachkin Artem

Detention: In October 2022, Russian FSB officers detained Artem Dyachkin and initiated a criminal case against him on charges of 'state treason' (Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code) and illegal acquisition, storage, and carrying of explosives. The Russian side alleged that he collaborated with Ukrainian intelligence services and transmitted information about Russian military facilities. The defense and Ukrainian human rights advocates emphasize that the case is politically motivated, and independent verification of the investigation materials is impossible due to the closed nature of the proceedings. Sentence: In 2023, a Russian-controlled court in Sevastopol found Artem Dyachkin guilty and sentenced him to 16 years of imprisonment. In April 2026, the appellate court upheld the sentence. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, after several complex surgeries, Artem Dyachkin's health significantly deteriorated, requiring constant medical supervision and treatment. Human rights advocates stress that the lack of adequate medical care poses a serious threat to his health.

Dyakunovska Tetiana

Detention: In annexed Sevastopol on August 14, 2024, FSB officers conducted a search at the home of local 41-year-old resident Tetiana Dyakunovska. After the search, she was taken to an unknown location, and her family did not know her whereabouts for several months. It was later revealed that she was held incommunicado for several months in Simferopol's pre-trial detention centre No. 2. She was accused of state treason. Details are unknown. Sentence: As of July 18, 2026, no sentence has been issued. Tetiana Dyakunovska remains in custody. The Russian Federation accuses her under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('state treason'). Human rights organizations consider the case politically motivated.

Dzhemadenov Emil

Detention: On October 12, 2016, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Simferopol district and detained Emil Dzhemadenov along with Teimur Abdullaev, Uzeir Abdullaev, Rustem Ismailov, and Aider Saledinov. During the search, his phone, a Quran translation, and religious literature were seized, and his lawyer was denied access to the investigative proceedings for an extended period. Russian authorities accused him of participating in the activities of the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as terrorist, although it is not banned in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. Sentence: On June 18, 2019, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Emil Dzhemadenov to 12 years in a high-security penal colony for involvement in...

Dzhepparov Arsen

Arrest: On April 18, 2016, FSB officers conducted a series of searches and detained Arsen Dzhepparov as part of the so-called Yalta Hizb ut-Tahrir case. A month before his arrest, FSB officers attempted to coerce him into cooperation and demanded testimony against other Crimean Tatars. After his refusal, a criminal case was initiated against him. Human rights defenders consider the persecution politically motivated. Sentence: On November 12, 2019, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Arsen Dzhepparov guilty under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('participation in the activities of a terrorist organization') and sentenced him to 7 years in a strict regime colony. Human rights organizations emphasize that Hizb ut-Tahrir is legal in Ukraine, and the case was based on hidden...

Ebulisov Edem

Arrest: On November 25, 2014, Edem Khalitovich Ebulisov, a resident of Simferopol, was detained on the street. The reason was his participation in a peaceful rally welcoming the national leader of the Crimean Tatars, Mustafa Dzhemilev, on May 3, 2014, in Armyansk. According to the investigation, during those events, Ebulisov allegedly struck a police officer with a flagpole. Before the arrest, a search was conducted at his home, during which a Crimean Tatar national flag was found and included as evidence. The case is handled by lawyer Emil Kurbedinov. Ebulisov was charged under Article 318 of the Russian Criminal Code (“use of violence against a government official”), with penalties ranging from a fine to 5 years of imprisonment. Sentence: The Kyiv District Court of Simferopol imposed a preventive measure of two months of imprisonment on Edem Ebulisov. He was released in 2015.

Krosh Ekrem

Detention: In January 2023, Ekrem Krosh was detained by Russian security forces in a village in the Dzhankoy district following mass illegal searches. He, along with five other Crimean Tatars, was taken to Simferopol, where a Russian-controlled court placed him under arrest in a pre-trial detention centre. Sentence: On April 30, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Ekrem Krosh to 17 years in prison on fabricated charges in the case of the 'second Dzhankoy group' related to the organization 'Hizb ut-Tahrir'.

Kantemirov Eldar

Arrest: On June 10, 2019, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the Alushta and Bilohirsk districts of occupied Crimea. During this wave of repression, Crimean Tatar activist Eldar Kantemirov was detained. He was accused of participating in the activities of the Islamic organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is legal in Ukraine and most countries worldwide but banned in Russia. Sentence: On August 16, 2021, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Eldar Kantemirov to 12 years in prison. The first two years were to be served in a high-security prison, with the remainder in a strict-regime colony. The court also imposed one and a half years of restricted freedom after release. Subsequently, the political prisoner was transferred first to the Ulyanovsk region of the Russian Federation, and in October 2024, to...

Emiruseinov Rustem

Arrest: On February 14, 2019, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Krasnogvardeysky district and detained Rustem Emiruseinov along with Arsen Abkhairov and Eskender Abdulganiyev. He was accused of "organizing the activities of a terrorist organization" (Part 1, Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code) due to alleged involvement with the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Russia but operates legally in Ukraine and most countries worldwide. Human rights defenders emphasize that no evidence of preparation for violent acts or terrorist activities was presented. Sentence: On November 3, 2020, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Rustem Emiruseinov guilty and sentenced him to 17 years in a strict regime colony with subsequent...

Ersmanbetova Niyara

Detention: Security forces came for her in May 2025, seven days after her mother's funeral. Sentence: On November 19, 2025, Niyara Ersmanbetova was sentenced for alleged collaboration with the military-partisan movement 'ATESH'. Charged under Article 275 of the Russian Criminal Code ('State Treason'). She is in custody. Niyara Memetivna Ersmanbetova was born on October 3, 1987 – a Ukrainian citizen, Crimean Tatar, resident of temporarily occupied Crimea. She is the wife of Crimean Tatar political prisoner Enver Ersmanbetov, detained by Russian security forces during mass searches on June 10, 2019, in the so-called 'second Simferopol Hizb ut-Tahrir case'. After her husband's arrest, Niyara was left alone with their children and actively engaged in community activities supporting families of illegally imprisoned...

Abdulhaniyev Eskender

Detention: On February 14, 2019, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Krasnogvardeysky district of temporarily occupied Crimea. Following the search, Eskender Abdulhaniyev was detained along with Rustem Emiruseinov and Arsen Abkhairov. All three were charged under Part 2 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code for alleged participation in the activities of the organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia has designated as terrorist. In Ukraine, the activities of this organization are not prohibited. Human rights defenders consider the case politically motivated.

Eyupov Azamat

Detention: On February 17, 2021, FSB officers conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in the Bilohirsk, Bakhchysarai, Simferopol districts, and Sevastopol. After the search, Azamat Eyupov was detained along with other Crimean Tatar activists. He was charged under Part 1 of Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code ('Organization of the activities of a terrorist organization') due to alleged involvement with the Islamic political organization Hizb ut-Tahrir, which is banned in Russia but not in Ukraine or most countries worldwide. Ukrainian and international human rights organizations emphasize that the case lacks evidence of preparation or commission of terrorist acts and is politically motivated. Sentence: On July 12, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Azamat...