Additional Name(s): Enver Esfindyarovich Ametov, Аметов Энвер Эсфиндиярович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 13 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/27/2019
Date of Sentencing: November/24/2022
Current Status: Not Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Association
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Enver Ametov is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.
On March 27, 2019, authorities arrested Ametov, an activist from the Crimean Solidarity movement, after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. Authorities searched the homes of several activists and allegedly confiscated Hizb ut-Tahrir materials. Ametov was charged with “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
On November 24, 2022, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Ametov to 13 years in prison.
On February 1, 2024, the Military Court of Appeal upheld Ametov's sentence.
Ametov is married with three children.
Related Cases:Ruslan Suleimanov, Yashar Muyedinov, Rustem Sheikhaliev, Osman Arifmemetov
Photo attributed to Memorial Human Rights Center
"Апелляционный суд утвердил сроки пятерым фигурантам второго симферопольского дела «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" OVD-Info
USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
"Пятерых крымских татар приговорили к срокам от 13 до 14 лет лишения свободы" Political Prisoners. Memorial
"Аметов Энвер Эсфиндиярович" Memorial Human Rights Center
"List of Individuals Recognised as Political Prisoners by the Memorial Human Rights Centre and Persecuted in connection with the Realisation of Their Right to Freedom of Religion as of 9 November 2021" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Crimean Tatar journalist faces 15-year sentence for ‘planning to overthrow the Russian regime’ with book on being alone with God" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"Суд продлил Энверу Аметову срок содержания под стражей в СИЗО и отклонил апелляцию защиты" Crimean Solidarity
2019 Report on International Religious Freedom: Ukraine - Crimea U.S. Department of State
"Симферопольское дело 25 о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial Human Rights Center
"The FSB is making a large number of arrests in an attempt to close down the Crimean Tatars’ human rights movement" Memorial Human Rights Center
Additional Name(s): Muslim Nurievich Aliyev, Алиев Муслим Нуриевич
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 19 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/11/2016
Date of Sentencing: November/12/2019
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Ethnoreligious Identity Possession of Religious Materials Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Muslim Aliyev is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.
On February 11, 2016, security forces arrested Aliyev, the head of the local Muslim community, after raiding his home in Verkhnya Kutuzovka, Crimea. They reportedly confiscated books, including the Qur'an. Aliyev was accused of leading a cell of the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. He and his colleagues allegedly held meetings where they studied the organization's literature and ideology and discussed political and social issues.
On November 12, 2019, Aliyev was sentenced to to 19 years and one year of restricted freedom for "organizing the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist" (Art. 205.5-1 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC). Aliyev was tried alongside five other defendants, all Crimean Tatar Muslims, many of whom were prominently involved in political opposition to the occupation and human rights advocacy.
On June 25, 2020, Aliyev's sentence was upheld.
Aliyev is married with four children.
Related Cases: Inver Bekirov, Vadim Siruk, Arsen Dzhepparov, Emir-Usein Kuku, Refat Alimov
Photo attributed to Memorial Human Rights Center
"Алиев Муслим Нуриевич" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Crimean Tatar prisoner of conscience sentenced to 19 years for religious 'dissidence' faces new torment in Russian prison" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"List of Individuals Recognised as Political Prisoners by the Memorial Human Rights Centre and Persecuted in connection with the Realisation of Their Right to Freedom of Religion as of 9 November 2021" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Huge sentences upheld for defending human rights and integrity in Russian-occupied Crimea" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"Russia brings 19-year sentences against religious ‘dissidents’ to occupied Crimea" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"Ялтинское дело о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Defendants in the Yalta Hizb ut-Tahrir case are political prisoners" Memorial Human Rights Center
Additional Name(s): Fanis Faritovich Akhmetshin,Akhmetshin Fanis Faritovich, Ахметшин Фанис Фаритович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 11 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: February/4/2015
Date of Sentencing: July/30/2018
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition
Fanis Akhmetshin is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On February 4, 2015, authorities arrested Akhmetshin after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. He was initially charged with “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC).
In January 2016, Akhmetshin was also charged with "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC).
On July 30, 2018, the Volga District Military Court sentenced Akhmetshin to 11 years in prison and one year of restricted freedom for “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 RCC). Akhmetshin was also fined 400,000 rubles.
Photo attributed to Memorial Human Rights Center
"List of Individuals Recognised as Political Prisoners by the Memorial Human Rights Centre and Persecuted in connection with the Realisation of Their Right to Freedom of Religion as of 9 November 2021" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Уфимское дело двадцати шести о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Memorial recognizes 23 Muslims from Bashkortostan as political prisoners" Memorial Human Rights Center