Akim Gafarov
Akim Gafarov, born 1966, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 208 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in armed groups against the interests of the Russian Federation including in the…); “Akim Gafarov's case of participation in the activities of an illegal armed formation”. Sentence (June 23, 2021): 8 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony in absentia. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since December 12, 2023. Recognition: Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners — recognised as a political prisoner, June 17, 2025.
In brief
Sentence
8 years
imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony in absentia
Upheld June 10, 2025
Charges
- Article 208 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in armed groups against the interests of the Russian Federation including in the territory of a foreign state
Full wording of the charges
According to the investigation, "in April 2016, being on the territory of Ukraine, acting deliberately on the grounds of political enmity towards the Russian Federation and the fact of its attaching of the Republic of Crimea and <address>, he voluntarily arrived in the camp of the illegal armed formation "Crimean Tatar Volunteer Battalion named after Noman Chelebidzhikhan" (hereinafter - IAF) located near the settlement <address>, i.e. an armed formation not provided for in the legislation of Ukraine, created no later than November 2015." "Being in the camp of the above-mentioned IAF, in April 2016, being aware of the illegal nature of his actions, voluntarily joined this IAF, not provided for in the legislation of Ukraine, which had a military organisation, and armed its members with various types of firearms and other weapons. At the same time, he shared and supported the goals of the creation and activities of the IAF, which were contrary to the interests of the Russian Federation, and from the moment he joined the group he knew that the members of the IAF had firearms and ammunition and allowed the possibility of their use. Being a member of the said IAF, in the period from April 2016 to DD.MM.YYYY took an active part in its activities, performed functional duties to ensure the activities of the said formation, including those related to the construction of various structures and barriers, running a subsidiary farm in the locations of the illegal armed group. At the same time, until DD.MM.YYYY, he did not declare voluntary termination of his participation in the illegal armed group, thereby deliberately continuing his criminal activities to participate in it".
Latest event
June 17, 2025 — recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as a political prisoner — Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners, June 17, 2025
Timeline
· Recognised as a political prisoner
Memorial: Support for Political Prisoners
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 8 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
Criminal case
Akim Gafarov's case of participation in the activities of an illegal armed formation
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Details and sources
Full summary
He lived in Crimea and left for the Kherson region of Ukraine in 2016. A case was opened against him for participating in the activities of an illegal armed group in connection with his involvement in the Crimean Tatar Volunteer Battalion named after Noman Chelebidzhikhan, despite the fact that there is no evidence of the battalion's involvement in any military actions. On June 21, 2021, Gafarov was sentenced in absentia to eight years in a strict regime penal colony. According to unconfirmed information, he was kidnapped by armed men in May 2022. According to the "Support for Political Prisoners. Memorial" project, Gafarov has been in penal colony since August 11, 2022. He filed a cassation appeal against the verdict, and on December 12, 2023, the cassation court sent the case back for a new trial. On May 22, 2024, Gafarov was sentenced to five years in a strict regime penal colony. On August 8, 2024, the court of appeal increased the sentence to eight years.
Other people prosecuted under Article 208 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.