Asan Ianikov
Asan Ianikov, born 1986, Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea. Charges: Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code (Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization); Article 278 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code (Preparing for violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order); “The case of Akim Bekirov, Seitveli Seitabdiev, Rustem Seitkhalilov, Eskender Suleimanov and Asan Ianikov”. Sentence (March 18, 2022): 15 years' imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony, 1 year's restriction of liberty. Status: imprisoned; deprived of liberty since March 29, 2019; place of detention: Prison No. 2, Vladimir Oblast. Recognition: Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, May 23, 2019; Memorial Human Rights Centre — recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion, May 13, 2019.
In brief
Occupied territory of Republic of Crimea · Simferopol · Manual workers · Terrorism cases, Cases against Hizb ut-Tahrir
Sentence
15 years
imprisonment in a strict regime penal colony, 1 year's restriction of liberty
Upheld April 16, 2025
Charges
- Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code — Participation in the activities of a terrorist organization
- Article 278 applied with Article 30 part 1, Russian Criminal Code — Preparing for violent seizure of power or alteration of the constitutional order
Full wording of the charges
He was one of the ordinary members of a "Hizb-ut-Tahrir" cell, used conspiracy measures during meetings to disseminate terrorist ideology among the peninsula's inhabitants, recruited Crimean Muslims into its ranks, and participated in preparations for the overthrow of the constitutional order.
Latest event
April 16, 2025 — cassation
The court upheld the verdict.
Recognition by rights defenders
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners, May 23, 2019
- Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion — Memorial Human Rights Centre, May 13, 2019
Timeline
· Cassation ruling
upheld
· Imprisonment begins
· First-instance verdict
guilty verdict · 15 years
· Added to the Rosfinmonitoring list of “terrorists and extremists”
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Union of Solidarity with Political Prisoners
· Recognised as unlawfully deprived of liberty for exercising freedom of religion
Memorial Human Rights Centre
· Preventive measure: pre-trial detention
· Persecution begins
The case of Akim Bekirov, Seitveli Seitabdiev, Rustem Seitkhalilov, Eskender Suleimanov and Asan Ianikov
Criminal case
The case of Akim Bekirov, Seitveli Seitabdiev, Rustem Seitkhalilov, Eskender Suleimanov and Asan Ianikov
Other defendants in the case
- Akim Bekirov — Imprisoned, 14 years
- Seytveli Seitabdiyev — Imprisoned, 14 years
- Rustem Seytkhalilov — Imprisoned, 14 years
- Eskender Suleimanov — Imprisoned, 15 years
Thematic group: Second Simferopol case of "Hizb ut-Tahrir"
Write a letter
Facility: Prison No. 2, Vladimir Oblast
Address (in Russian, as written on the envelope)
600020, ул. Большая Нижегородская д. 67, Владимирская область, г. Владимир, ФКУ «Тюрьма № 2 УФСИН по Владимирской области» «Владимирский централ», Яников Асан Алиевич, 1986 г.р.
Details and sources
Full summary
A "Crimean Solidarity" activist. On 27th of March, 2019, Asan was detained after a search, and on the next day he was taken into custody on charges of participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation. He was sent to a pre-trial detention centre in Rostov region and later transferred back to Crimea. In March of 2020, it came to light that Ianikov was also accused of preparing to overthrow the constitutional order. On 18th of March, 2022, he was sentenced to 15 years in a strict regime penal colony.
On 6th of April 2024, guards of the prison beat Ianikov up for asking when he could pick up food from the wardroom two times.
All fields of the record
- Citizenship
- Russia
Other people prosecuted under Article 205.5 part 2, Russian Criminal Code
Under the same article, not necessarily in the same case.