A Crimean Tatar political prisoner illegally held in prison was transferred to a colony

Crimean Tatar Arsen Abkhairov was transferred from the Yeniseisk prison in the Krasnoyarsk Territory to a maximum security colony in the Republic of Buryatia. Moreover, he should have been transferred to a colony more than six months ago.

Prison is the most severe form of punishment in the Russian penitentiary system. Prisoners are constantly in a cell and have limited movements. Sports, training or work activities are not permitted in prison.

In 2020, the Southern District Military Court sentenced businessman Arsen Abkhairov to 13 years in prison. He was accused of belonging to the Islamic party Hizb-ut-Tahrir, banned in Russia. In Ukraine and other countries of the world, the organization operates without restrictions at the level of national legislation.

The first two years, taking into account the period of detention in the pre-trial detention center, the prisoner had to spend in prison. However, the time in the pre-trial detention center was not counted towards the prison term. According to the lawyer, the actions of the Federal Penitentiary Service are illegal. In September last year, an attempt was made to challenge the court's decision, but it was unsuccessful.

Последние новости
Friend of missing Chechen woman detained in Grozny after picket
Human rights
Friend of missing Chechen woman detained in Grozny after picket
23 August 2026

Elena Patyaeva—a friend of Seda Suleymanova, who disappeared three years ago after being forcibly returned from St. Petersburg to Chechnya—was detained in Grozny. On August 23, Patyaeva stood by the monument to journalists who died for freedom of speech, holding a sign that read: "I demand an investigation into the murder of Seda Suleymanova." This was reported by the human rights project "Slovo Zashchite" (Word for the Defense).

Azerbaijani Ambassador Says Russian Media Hinders Closer Ties Between Baku and Moscow
Politics
Azerbaijani Ambassador Says Russian Media Hinders Closer Ties Between Baku and Moscow
23 August 2026

Azerbaijan intends to continue developing relations with Russia, despite the deteriorating media narrative surrounding Baku in Russian outlets. Rahman Mustafayev, Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Russia, stated this in an interview with RTVI.

Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
Politics
Falling debris from Ukrainian UAVs sparks fires in southern Russia
23 August 2026

Wildfires broke out in the Rostov and Krasnodar regions due to falling drone debris. In the Rostov region, the railway overhead power line was also damaged, while in the Kuban region, three people—including two children—were killed in an attack the previous day.

Case over children’s poisoning in Dagestan reaches court
Society
Case over children’s poisoning in Dagestan reaches court
22 August 2026

In Dagestan’s Karabudakhkent District, a criminal case against the head of the private Chudo kindergarten in the village of Paraul, where 10 children suffered carbon monoxide poisoning in February, has been sent to court, the republic’s prosecutor’s office said.
The woman is accused of providing services that failed to meet safety requirements for consumers’ lives and health. The case will be heard by the Karabudakhkent District Court.