Additional Name(s): Emir-Usein Kemalovich Kuku, Куку Эмир-Усеин Кемалович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: Yes

Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 12 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: February/11/2016

Date of Sentencing: November/12/2019

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Ethnoreligious Identity Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Terrorism Treason & Sedition

Emir-Usein Kuku

Extra Bio Info:

Emir-Usein Kuku is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.

On February 11, 2016, authorities arrested Kuku, a member of the Crimean Human Rights Contact Group, following a raid on his home. Kuku was accused of being a member 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, Kuku was sentenced to 12 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). Kuku 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, Kuku's sentence was upheld.

On June 21, 2023, Kuku was hospitalized due to pain in his kidneys. Reports indicate his chronic kidney problems were not properly treated while in prison. 

On June 23, 2023, Kuku underwent emergency surgery. 

Kuku is married with two children.

Prior to his most recent arrest, officers with the Russian security services violently beat and abducted Kuku in 2015. This incident resulted in Kuku developing kidney issues. 

Related Cases: Inver Bekirov, Vadim Siruk, Arsen Dzhepparov, Refat Alimov, Muslim Aliyev

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Additional Name(s): Farid Shavkatovich Kryev, Kryev Farid Shavkatovich, Крыев Фарид Шавкатович

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Appeal: Rejected

Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: March/14/2017

Date of Sentencing: February/5/2020

Current Status: Not Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment

Reason for Persecution: Attending a Religious Gathering or Meeting Discussing Religion & Religious Texts Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Banned Organization Incitement to Commit Crime & Violence Terrorism

Farid Kryev

Extra Bio Info:

Farid Kryev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On March 14, 2017, authorities arrested Kryev after accusing him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. He and his colleagues allegedly organized meetings to discuss politics, strategies for reaching out to other Muslims about the organization, and the application of Islamic law norms in everyday life. 

On February 5, 2020, the Volga District Military Court sentenced Kryev to 15 years in prison for “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC) and “public calls for terrorist activities, public justification of terrorism or propaganda of terrorism…committed with the use of mass media or electronic or information and telecommunication networks” (Art. 205.2-2 RCC).

On May 31, 2021, Kryev's sentence was upheld.

Kryev is married with two children.

Related Cases: Abdukakhor Mumindzhanov, Ruslan Gabidullin, Ilnar Zyalilov, Azat Gataullin, Sergei Derzhipilsky, Zulfat Sabirzyanov, Rustem Salakhudtinov, Komil Matiev, Ilnaz Safiullin

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Alexander Valeryevich Kornev, Kornev Alexander Valerievich, Aleksandr Kornev, Корнев Александр Валерьевич

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: Russia

Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 13 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

Alexander Kornev

Extra Bio Info:

Alexander Valeryevich Kornev is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.

On February 4, 2015, authorities arrested Kornev 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, Kornev 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 Kornev to 13 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). Kornev was also fined 400,000 rubles.

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