27 August 2026

Abdulmedjit Seytumerov’s birthday: Three Years Behind Bars

Today, August 27, Abdulmedjit Seytumerov celebrates his 27th birthday.

Before his arrest, Abdulmedjit was a history student and a civil society activist who supported the families of Crimean political prisoners. After the arrest of his brothers Osman and Seytumer in 2020, he stayed in Bakhchysarai to help his parents and the brothers’ families. 

A few weeks before his detention, Abdulmedjit became a father. But instead of spending the first months with his newborn child, he faced a raid, arrest, and Russian captivity.

On August 24, 2023, Russian security forces stormed into his home. He was accused of allegedly “participation in the activities of a terrorist organization” as part of the case of the so-called Fifth Bakhchysarai Group – on trumped-up charges of involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia designated as “terrorist” and banned in 2003, and after the occupation of Ukrainian territories, illegally extended the application of its legislation there.

Abdulmedjit is still behind bars. His health is deteriorating: he suffers from knee pain, is losing his teeth, and faints. No verdict has yet been handed down in his case.

Russia continues to unlawfully persecute Crimean Tatars for their civic stance. Politically motivated persecution must cease, and all unlawfully detained Ukrainian citizens must be released.