Who among former Crimean political prisoners served the longest detention term in Russian detention centers?

Since the occupation of Crimea, Russia has unleashed a wave of repression against Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian activists, misusing its legislation for political purposes. Arrests have become a regular practice, and the conditions of detention are appalling. Political prisoners were subjected to moral and physical pressure, and were held in inhumane conditions in Russian detention centers and colonies.

According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, during the entire period of occupation, the number of political prisoners and those prosecuted in criminal cases reached 362 people , 226 of whom were representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. 223 political prisoners are currently held in colonies and pre-trial detention centers.

Some of the detainees have already fully served their “sentences”, and some have been released as part of exchanges.

So, who among the former Crimean political prisoners has served the longest term in Russian detention centers?

Among those who have fully served their sentences:

Ferat Saifullayev – 9 years behind bars.
Mykola Shiptur – 9 years behind bars.
Refat Alimov – 8 years behind bars.
Emil Minasov – 7 years and 1 month behind bars.
Among those released as part of the exchanges:

Oleg Sentsov – 5 years and 3 months behind bars.
Oleksandr Kolchenko – 5 years and 3 months behind bars.

But even after their release, not all political prisoners are free. Many of them are still on probation or under administrative supervision. These restrictions are designed to make civilian life as difficult as possible for political prisoners after serving their illegal sentences. For example, people who are under these restrictions cannot find a full-time job, receive medical care or even social benefits.

It is important to emphasize that there are no former political prisoners. We must remember that these people paid for their civic position and were illegally persecuted by the occupation authorities of the peninsula.

The Crimean Tatar Resource Center demands that Russia immediately release all political prisoners.

We call on the international community to increase pressure on the Russian Federation to stop political persecution in Crimea, as well as to impose personal sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations in the temporarily occupied Crimea.