Following consideration of the appeal, the Russian court upheld the sentence handed down to Crimean political prisoner Serhiy Likhomanov — CTRC

February 18, 2026
As reported to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, on February 17, the Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation upheld the sentence of Crimean political prisoner Serhiy Lykhomanov following consideration of his appeal. The hearing was held online.

On May 15, 2024, the Gagarin District “Court” of Akyar (Sevastopol) found Serhiy Lykhomanov guilty under clause “c” of part 3 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation and illegally sentenced him to 5 years in a strict regime colony and a fine of 50,000 rubles. Subsequently, another criminal case was opened against him under Article 275, Part 1 of Article 30, and Part 2, Clause “c” of Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. On October 8, 2025, he was illegally sentenced for the second time, this time to 15 years in a penal colony and a fine of 50,000 rubles.

Serhiy is currently being held in Taganrog Pre-Trial Detention Center No. 2. According to his sister, Tetiana Zelena, the political prisoner’s health is a cause for concern; he has scabies and needs decent conditions of detention and proper medical care. In captivity, he tries not to lose heart, reads books and magazines, and asks relatives and volunteers to send him literature. Serhiy also began to study Italian in prison.

His relatives and human rights organizations, in particular the Crimean Tatar Resource Center are doing everything possible to spread information about the illegal persecution of Serhiy Lykhomanov so that the international community learns about his case and he is released from illegal detention. Work in this direction continues on an ongoing basis.

This story is yet another example of systematic politically motivated persecution on the temporarily occupied peninsula. The CTRC continues to document human rights violations in Crimea and calls for the release of all illegally imprisoned Ukrainian citizens.