Additional Name(s): Server Gaziyev, Servet Abduraimovich Gaziyev, Газиев Сервет Абдураимович
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Russia
Ethnic Group: Crimean Tatar
Religion or Belief: Muslim – Sunni
Health Concerns: Chronic cholecystitis, minor stroke
Reports of Torture: Yes
Reports of Medical Neglect: Yes
Appeal: Rejected
Sentence: 13 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: March/27/2019
Date of Sentencing: January/11/2023
Current Status: Not Released
Religious Leader: No
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
Servet Gaziyev is imprisoned for his alleged religious activity.
On March 27, 2019, authorities arrested Gaziyev, an activist for the Crimean Solidarity movement, after officers raided his home in Simferopol, Crimea, and accused him of being a member of the banned Hizb ut-Tahrir organization. He was subsequently transferred to mainland Russia and 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).
Gaziyev's health has deteriorated greatly while in prison and has been denied proper medical care. In May 2021, Gaziyev's trial was delayed due to his health. He was reportedly unable to stand in court due to pain. Gaziyev reportedly suffers from chronic cholecystitis (gallbladder inflammation), causing him to experience abdominal pain, vomiting and fever. In June 2021, it was reported that Gaziyev suffered a minor stroke.
In September 2021, it was reported that Gaziyev was beaten by prison staff and had his beard forcibly shaven after he was transferred to a psychiatric ward of the prison's hospital.
On January 11, 2023, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced Gaziyev to 13 years in prison.
On September 11, 2023, the Military Court of Appeal in Vlasikha upheld Gaziyev's sentence.
Gaziyev is married with two children.
Related Cases: Erfan Osmanov, Seiran Murtaza, Alim Karimov, Dzhemil Gafarov
Photo attributed to Memorial Human Rights Center
"Russia upholds death sentences against two Crimean Tatar political prisoners after killing one of them" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG)
"Апелляция утвердила по 13 лет колонии пятерым крымским татарам, включая умершего в СИЗО" OVD-Info
USCIRF Issue Update: Russia’s Religious Freedom Violations in Ukraine July 2023
USCIRF Commissioners Sharon Kleinbaum and Abraham Cooper, Tweet, January 12, 2023
"The court sentenced the last five defendants in the second Simferopol case of Hizb ut-Tahrir" SOVA Center
"Симферопольское дело 25 о членстве в запрещённой «Хизб ут-Тахрир»" Memorial Human Rights Center
"Gravely ill Crimean Tatar political prisoner beaten by staff in Russian prison hospital" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"Russia is slowly killing gravely ill Crimean Tatar political prisoner" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"Russia uses wholesale arrests to try to crush Crimean Tatar human rights movement" Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group
"Газиев Сервет Абдураимович" Memorial Human Rights Center