19 August 2026

Appaz Kurtamet’s Birthday: 5th Year Behind Bars

Today, August 19, Appaz Kurtamet celebrates his 24th birthday.

On July 23, 2022, Russian security forces detained him while he was entering the temporarily occupied Crimea. The reason for his persecution was a transfer 500-hryvnias to an acquaintance. Later, an occupation court framed this as “financing” an illegal armed formation and sentenced Appaz to 7 years in prison. This sentence is unlawful, politically motivated, and criminal. Such a policy on the part Russian Federation demonstrates a systematic fight against the political beliefs of the peninsula’s residents.

Today, he is being held in a strict-regime penal colony in the Pskov region, thousands of kilometers away from his native Crimea and his family.

Today, Appaz Kurtamet is one of the youngest Crimean political prisoners. His family continues to fight for his release.

According to Appaz’s mother, the detention conditions remain harsh. He is suffering psychological and emotional distress, and his health has suffered due to previous detention conditions and torture. Appaz tries to use his free time for self-education and reading.

Twenty-four is an age when a person should be building their life, not counting the years until their release.

Russia must be held accountable for the unlawful persecution and imprisonment of Ukrainian citizens and all illegally imprisoned individuals must be freed and return home.