13 January 2025

Riza Izetov Has Been Illegally Held in Solitary Confinement for Over a Month

Human rights defender Riza Izetov, sentenced to 19 years of imprisonment, has been held in solitary confinement in Correctional Colony No. 1 in the Republic of Sakha since December 6, 2024. His mother, Nadiie Izetova, reported this and referred to communication received through the Zonatelecom system.

“On December 4, Riza received a package, but it had not been delivered to him for over a month. Due to prolonged holidays, there has been no contact with him,” said the mother of the political prisoner.

On March 10, 2022, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don illegally issued a guilty verdict in the “Second Simferopol Group” case of Hizb ut-Tahrir. The court unlawfully sentenced Riza Izetov to 19 years of imprisonment, with the first 5 years to be served in a maximum-security prison, followed by the remainder in a strict-regime colony. After his release, the court unjustly imposed an additional restriction of freedom for 1.5 years. On March 28, 2023, the Appellate Military Court in Vlasikha upheld this illegal sentence without any changes.

Human rights violations in temporarily occupied Crimea and the illegal imprisonment of Ukrainian citizens are stark examples of the systematic pressure on those who oppose the occupation of the peninsula. Repressions against Indigenous peoples, activists, and human rights defenders constitute a blatant violation of international law.

We call on the international community to intensify pressure on Russia, demanding the release of all political prisoners and an end to persecution in Crimea. Protecting human rights is a shared responsibility, and the fight for justice in Crimea is part of a global effort toward peace and the rule of law.