A new criminal case has been opened against Crimean Tatar activist Tofik Abdulgaziyev, who suffers from a number of serious illnesses, including a malignant brain tumor and tuberculosis, under the article on contempt of court (Part 2 of Article 297 of the Russian Criminal Code). This was reported by Crimean Solidarity, citing a comment from lawyer Emil Kurbedinov.
On April 17, the court heard a petition for Abdulgaziyev's release from prison due to illnesses included in the list of conditions that prevent him from serving his sentence. However, the hearing did not lead to a consideration of the merits: the judge recused herself and filed a criminal complaint against the defendant. According to the defense, the reason was Abdulgaziyev's behavior at the previous hearing, where he expressed his position in a harsh manner.
Abdulgaziyev's wife, Aliye Kurtametova, previously reported that he was removed from the courtroom on February 27 for "inappropriate behavior toward the panel of judges." She attributes her husband's emotional reaction to the events of the previous day. According to her, before the hearing, he was taken to a consultation with prison doctors, where FSB officers were allegedly present.
According to her, Abdulgaziyev was asked to sign medical documents without reading them. Due to his deteriorating vision, he asked to read the text, but was refused and, according to him, was pressured by prison staff.
"The head of the medical unit refused this request, adding: 'Sign it, and you'll find out later.' [...] Only in court did he learn their contents. "As it turned out, the document stated that [...] Tofik Abdulgaziyev was completely healthy and had no objections or complaints regarding his transfer back from the hospital to the penal colony," wrote Aliye Kurtametova.
That same day, April 17, in the evening, a representative of the Investigative Committee informed the defense that the judge's application had already been reviewed and a criminal case had been opened. The lawyer representing Abdulgaziyev in the release petition was summoned for questioning as a witness. The release issue will now be referred to the court president, who will appoint a new judge. The hearing of the petition will begin anew.
Penalties for contempt of court include a fine of up to 200,000 rubles, mandatory or corrective labor, or arrest for up to six months. Moreover, given that Abdulgaziyev is already serving a sentence under Article 205.5 of the Russian Criminal Code, a guilty verdict could result in a combined sentence, which could affect the overall prison term. Since March 2024, Abdulgaziyev has been in prison tuberculosis hospital No. 3 in Chelyabinsk, where he was diagnosed with disseminated pulmonary tuberculosis. He was later diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia, hydrothorax, anemia, heart and kidney disease, and chronic conditions.
In December 2024, doctors discovered a brain tumor. Based on the examinations, a panel concluded it was a malignant glioblastoma. According to his family, his condition continues to deteriorate: he is losing his vision, experiencing asthma attacks, losing consciousness, and has difficulty moving.
"Tofik constantly tries to stay close to his bed in case he faints. Hearing this, knowing he is completely alone in a solitary confinement cell with absolutely no one to help him if he falls, is unbearable. He can't even see the plate he's supposed to eat from. "He asks for help when he dials a phone because his finger hits the wall," complained Aliye Kurtametova.
At the beginning of 2025, according to her, Abdulgaziyev's condition became critical: his coordination was impaired, dizziness increased, bleeding began, and his blood sugar levels spiked.
Tofik Abdulgaziyev was arrested in March 2019 on charges of involvement in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir, an organization banned in Russia. In May 2022, the Southern District Military Court of Rostov-on-Don sentenced him to 12 years in a maximum-security prison colony. The sentence was upheld on appeal.
