A Crimean Tatar Akim Gafarov, who was sentenced to 8 years, was recognized as a political prisoner. This was reported by the independent human rights project "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial". The man was accused of participating in the Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion, recognized as illegal in the Russian Federation and acting in the interests of Ukraine.

In 2016, Akim Gafarov left Crimea for mainland Ukraine, fearing political persecution. Due to the lack of housing and income, he lived and worked for some time at the location of the Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion near the border with Crimea. Thus, according to the investigation, Gafarov was a member of an illegal armed formation.

In 2021, a Russian court sentenced Gafarov in absentia to 8 years in prison. In 2022, after the appearance of Russian troops in the Kherson region, Gafarov was detained and placed in a colony.

"We believe that participation in the Noman Chelebidzhikhan battalion does not constitute a crime. Gafarov did not hold weapons in his hands and performed household work. He was a forced migrant from Crimea and received temporary housing and the opportunity to earn money on the territory of the association. Evidence that Gafarov was a member of an illegal armed group comes down to the testimony of "serial" witnesses who participated in dozens of cases, and photographs in camouflage without insignia," the human rights activists noted.