03 March 2025
March 3 Marks 11 Years Since the Abduction of Reshat Ametov, the First Victim of Russia’s Occupation of Crimea
On March 3, 2014, Crimean Tatar activist Reshat Ametov stood alone in protest against Russia’s occupation of Crimea on Simferopol’s central square. It was a solitary picket, and he also planned to enlist as a volunteer at the military recruitment office.
From the very beginning, Reshat supported the Revolution of Dignity, inspired by the people’s solidarity and civic activism. On February 28, after Russian forces seized the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, he wrote on his page: “On Monday, I’ll go to the Council of Ministers for a silent protest. Are you too weak to join?”
On March 3, 2014, Reshat Ametov staged a solitary protest on Lenin Square in central Simferopol against the occupation of Crimea. At that time, the square was filled with Russian occupation forces and pro-Russian “protesters” orchestrated by Moscow. He attempted to explain to them the illegality of their actions, openly declaring his right to be free in his own land. However, this courageous act provoked a brutal response from the occupiers.
On the square, members of the so-called “Crimean Self-Defense,” in the presence of regular Russian military personnel, detained him, forced him into a car, and took him to an unknown location. He was never heard from again.
According to reports, shortly after his abduction, Reshat Ametov was taken to the office of the Russian Unity party in Simferopol. At the time, this location housed one of the headquarters of the so-called “Crimean Self-Defense”—a Russian proxy group actively involved in the occupation of Crimea.
On March 15, his body was discovered in the village of Zemlianychne, Bilohirsk District. Signs of torture were evident—he had suffered multiple stab wounds, broken ribs, and his head was wrapped in tape. His eyes had been gouged out, and handcuffs lay beside his body.
On March 18, 2014, around two thousand Crimean Tatars gathered at the Abdal cemetery in Simferopol to bid farewell to Reshat Ametov.
To this day, the perpetrators remain unpunished. His murder is a crime against humanity and a war crime—an intentional killing. Ukrainian law enforcement agencies classify it as such, but due to the ongoing occupation, they have no access to case materials or the crime scene.
In 2019, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea announced that it had identified those responsible for the abduction of Reshat Ametov. The suspects were Ukrainian citizens Oleksandr Rudenko and Oleksandr Bahliuk, as well as Russian military retiree Yevhen Skrypnyk, who later took part in Russia’s occupation of eastern Ukraine under the call sign “Prapor.” However, Interpol refused to issue an international arrest warrant for them.
In 2015, Reshat Ametov was posthumously awarded the People’s Hero of Ukraine, and in 2017, he was honored with the title Hero of Ukraine.
Reshat Ametov’s story stands as yet another stark example of the crimes committed by the occupiers—from the very first day of Crimea’s occupation to the present. Yet, it is also a testament to unwavering resilience and deep love for his homeland. His heroic act reminds us of the vital importance of fighting for human rights, freedom, and justice.
We must honor his sacrifice, continue every effort to liberate Crimea from occupation, and ensure justice for him and all those who have suffered under Russia’s rule over the peninsula.