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Three teenagers in Chechnya have been held by police for seven months
Human rights
Three teenagers in Chechnya have been held by police for seven months
2 July 2025

Three teenagers have been held in police department No. 2 of the Grozny Department of Internal Affairs for more than six months. No criminal case has been opened against them, and, accordingly, there is no court decision on their arrest, the Memorial Human Rights Center reported.

Convicted Crimean Tatar activist complains of worsening vision and joint pain
Human rights
Convicted Crimean Tatar activist complains of worsening vision and joint pain
1 July 2025

Activist Aziz Akhtemov, sentenced to 13 years in prison, complained of pain in his eyes. He can barely read. His back and knees also hurt, making it difficult for him to sit for more than 15 minutes.

A native of Dagestan sentenced to five years has been recognized as a political prisoner
Human rights
A native of Dagestan sentenced to five years has been recognized as a political prisoner
1 July 2025

The human rights project "Memorial" has recognized a pensioner from St. Petersburg, 67-year-old native of Dagestan Magomedgadzhi Rabadanov, as a political prisoner. In April, he was sentenced to five years in prison for "attempted cooperation with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine" (Article 275.1. of the Criminal Code "Cooperation on a confidential basis with a foreign state, international or foreign organization").

Crimean Tatar political prisoner's health problems worsen
Human rights
Crimean Tatar political prisoner's health problems worsen
30 June 2025

Crimean Tatar journalist Amet Suleimanov, sentenced to 12 years, reported a deterioration in his health. He continues to suffer from high blood pressure, dental problems, and rashes on his body in the Vladimir Central prison.

Crimean Tatar political prisoner transported to a colony 8,000 kilometers from home
Human rights
Crimean Tatar political prisoner transported to a colony 8,000 kilometers from home
28 June 2025

Lenur Seidametov, a Crimean Tatar sentenced to 13 years, was transferred from a prison in the Lipetsk region to IK-3 in the Amur region. The colony is located more than 8,000 kilometers from Crimea.

Five more participants in the pogrom at the Makhachkala airport were sentenced in Stavropol Krai
Human rights
Five more participants in the pogrom at the Makhachkala airport were sentenced in Stavropol Krai
27 June 2025

A court in Stavropol Krai sentenced five more participants in the anti-Israeli pogrom at the Makhachkala airport to imprisonment for terms of 7 to 10 years. Rizvan Akhmedov, Atu Musayev, Magomed Mukhmayev, Khabib Sheikhov and Shanavaz Elmurzayev were found guilty of participating in mass riots and failure to comply with transport security requirements.

Conveyor belt sentences in the Basayev and Khattab case?
Human rights
Conveyor belt sentences in the Basayev and Khattab case?
26 June 2025

The defendants in the attack on Russian soldiers in Chechnya in 1999 received 45 years in a maximum security penal colony for two. This decision was made by a court in Rostov regarding Vakhit Khamzatkhanov and Takhir Begeldiev – 24 and 21 years respectively. Neither of them admitted guilt. According to the court, Khamzatkhanov and Begeldiev were members of the group of Shamil Basayev and Emir Khattab. For more details, watch our video.

Arrest extended for group of Crimean Tatars
Human rights
Arrest extended for group of Crimean Tatars
26 June 2025

A court in Simferopol extended the arrest of four Crimean Tatars until October 4. Plumber Rustem Mustafayev, laborer Abibulla Smedlyaev, son of a political prisoner Emir Kurtnezirov and cook Mirzali Tazhibaev are accused of participating in the activities of the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, banned in Russia but legal in Ukraine and other countries.

A resident of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic was given a prison term for belonging to Jehovah's Witnesses
Human rights
A resident of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic was given a prison term for belonging to Jehovah's Witnesses
26 June 2025

A court in Cherkessk sentenced a follower of Jehovah's Witnesses with a second-degree disability to 4.5 years in prison for extremism. During the hearing, the defendant lost consciousness due to poor health. Previously, despite his health, he was in custody for almost a year and a half in a pretrial detention center.

Alleged members of Basayev's detachment are to be sentenced to 25 and 28 years
Human rights
Alleged members of Basayev's detachment are to be sentenced to 25 and 28 years
25 June 2025

At a hearing of the Southern District Military Court in Rostov, the state prosecutor demanded that Takhir Begeldiev and Vakhit Khamzatkhanov be sentenced to 25 and 28 years in prison. They are accused of shooting Russian servicemen during the second Russian-Chechen war. The defendants did not admit their guilt.