An IT-specialist, physics tutor and a journalist, Ruslan was one of 25 people detained by Russian security services in March 2019, on bogus terrorism charges. Last year he was convicted to 14 years in prison in a trial widely recognized as politically motivated, unfair and unjust. Ruslan is today one of dozens other Crimean Tatar activist that Russian human rights organization Memorial counts as political prisoners.
Since Russian forces occupied Crimea in 2014, Ruslan has been an active member of the Crimean Solidarity Movement, speaking out against repressions of his people. For generations Crimean Tatars have been persecuted, discriminated and deported from Crimea. Ruslans great grandparents were deported by the Soviet authorities, his grandparents and parents and himself, born in deportation in Uzbekistan. After Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the repressions came back. Ruslan is now again deported from home, serving his sentence in Novocherkassk, Russia, almost 700 kilometres away.
Ruslan is married and a father of three. In 2020 his three-year-old son Musa died under tragic circumstances, while Ruslan was in prison. He was not allowed to attend the funeral, nor was the family allowed to visit him.
“I newly talked with Ruslan’s wife and mother. It is heartbreaking to hear about their situation and how much he is missed. He needs to come home to protect his family and stand up for his country”, says Berit Lindeman.
Today she sends a letter to Novocherkassk prison to remind Ruslan that his fight and courage is seen and remembered. Together with many of our partners worldwide, NHC will continue to advocate for release of all political prisoners held in Russian prisons.
