Extra Bio Info:

Server Zekiryayev is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.

On October 11, 2017, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, detained several Crimean Tatar activists, including Zekiryayev, after accusing them of being involved in the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, holding meetings and classes, and spreading the organizations ideology.

On September 16, 2020, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Zekiryayev to 13 years in prison 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).

On March 14, 2022, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld Zekiryayev's sentence.

In March 2024, it was reported that Zekiryayev's health had deteriorated and that he was living in inhumane conditions. It was also reported that Zekiryayev had religious literature, including a Qur'an, confiscated from him upon arriving to the penal colony.

Zekiryayev is married with reportedly 13 children.

Related Cases: Marlen Asanov, Timur Ibragimov, Memet Belyalov, Server Mustafayev, Seyran Saliyev, Edem Smailov, Ernes Ametov, Oleg Fedorov, Ernest Ibragimov

Extra Bio Info:

Memet Belyalov is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.

On October 11, 2017, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, detained several Crimean Tatar activists, including Belyalov, after accusing them of being involved in the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, holding meetings and classes, and spreading the organizations ideology.

On September 16, 2020, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Belyalov to 18 years in prison 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).

On March 14, 2022, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld Belyalov's sentence.

Belyalov is married with one child.

Related Cases: Marlen Asanov, Timur Ibragimov, Server Zekiryayev, Server Mustafayev, Seyran Saliyev, Edem Smailov, Ernes Ametov, Oleg Fedorov, Ernest Ibragimov

Extra Bio Info:

Seyran Saliyev is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.

On October 11, 2017, authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraine, detained several Crimean Tatar activists, including Saliyev, after accusing them of being involved in the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, holding meetings and classes, and spreading the organizations ideology.

On September 16, 2020, the Southern District Military Court sentenced Saliyev to 16 years in prison for “participating in the activities of an organization…recognized as terrorist” (Art. 205.5-2 RCC), "preparing for actions aimed at the forcible seizure of power or the forcible retention of power” (Art. 30-1/Art. 278 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 March 14, 2022, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha reduced Saliyev's sentence by one year to 15 years in prison.

Saliyev is married with three children.

Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) advocates for Saliyev as part of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission's Defending Freedoms Project.

Related Cases: Marlen Asanov, Timur Ibragimov, Memet Belyalov, Server Zekiryayev, Server Mustafayev, Edem Smailov, Ernes Ametov, Oleg Fedorov, Ernest Ibragimov