In occupied Crimea, the pre-trial investigation into the criminal case against four Crimean Tatar women from the Bakhchysarai district—Esma Nimetulaeva, Fevzie Osmanova, Elviza Alieva, and Nasiba Saidova—has concluded. Since September 5, the women have been reviewing the case files, according to human rights sources speaking to *Suspilne Krym*.
Russian security forces accuse them of involvement in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code. Additionally, the women are charged with preparing for the violent seizure of power—Article 278 in conjunction with Part 1 of Article 30 of the Russian Criminal Code.
This is the first known criminal case in occupied Crimea initiated by Russian security forces against women on charges of involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir.
All four were detained on October 15, 2025, following searches of their homes in the Bakhchysarai district. Nimetulaeva was the first to be detained. Searches were also conducted at the homes of Saidova in Kholmovka, Alieva in Dolinnoe, and Osmanova in Orlovka.
After their detention, the women were taken to the FSB headquarters in Simferopol. The following day, the occupation-controlled Kyivskyi District Court ordered them to be remanded in custody for two months. The hearings were held behind closed doors.
According to lawyer Emil Kurbedinov, Nimetulaeva was charged with organizing the activities of a terrorist organization, while the others were charged with participating in a terrorist organization.
During the hearing on the pre-trial restriction, the FSB investigator argued that the women might flee and destroy evidence. Authorities also cited the testimony of a secret witness against Aliyeva, who allegedly identified her as a member of a "terrorist" group. Her lawyer noted, however, that Aliyeva had never previously faced administrative charges.
According to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, the women allegedly disseminated the ideology of establishing a global caliphate among Crimean Muslims.
Hizb ut-Tahrir has been designated a terrorist organization in Russia since 2003. Following the occupation of Crimea, Russian laws regarding the group were extended to the peninsula, and Crimean Muslims began facing prosecution on charges of involvement with the organization.
