Crimean Tatar political prisoner denied transfer to penal colony closer to home
A Simferopol court denied political prisoner Ametkhan Abdulvapov's request to invalidate his transfer to a penal colony in Angarsk (Irkutsk Region). The colony is located more than 5,500 kilometers from Crimea.
According to his defense, this court decision effectively deprives the Crimean Tatar and his family of short- and long-term visits. His elderly retired parents and wife with their minor children cannot afford to travel such a long distance, both financially and physically.
As a reminder, in early autumn 2025, it was reported that Abdulvapov, who had suffered a stroke, was being held in solitary confinement. Ametkhan Abdulvapov was arrested in Crimea in 2022 on terrorism charges. The man was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison. The Crimean Tatar was accused of membership in the Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has been banned in Russia since 2003 and designated a terrorist organization. The organization operates legally in Ukraine and most countries worldwide.
According to the case file, the defendant did not possess weapons, did not plan to commit a terrorist act, and did not call for one. However, Ametkhan Abdulvapov was charged with participating in a terrorist organization and preparing for the violent seizure of power. The charges were based on the testimony of secret witnesses and an audio recording secretly made during a meeting with other Muslims.
