Today, we tell the story of visually impaired activist Oleksandr Sizikov, who was illegally sentenced to 17 years in a maximum security colony, 4 of which he is forced to spend in prison.

Life before the detention 

Oleksandr Sizikov was born on October 12, 1984, in the city of Simferopol. His family later moved to the village of Turhenivka in the Bakhchysarai district, where Oleksandr lived until his unlawful arrest.

In 2002, he enrolled in the Sevastopol National Technical University, graduating in 2008 with a degree in Automation and Computer-Integrated Technologies. He subsequently worked in the construction sector and at a gas station in Sevastopol.

In 2006, Sizikov converted to Islam.

On June 22, 2009, Oleksandr was involved in a traffic accident that resulted in the complete loss of his eyesight, along with other serious injuries, including the removal of his spleen. Following the accident, he underwent a rehabilitation program for the visually impaired in Kyiv and was officially classified as having a Group I disability.

What did the occupiers come up with?

On July 7, 2020, security forces of the occupation administration in Crimea conducted another series of mass searches, during which seven individuals, including Oleksandr Sizikov, were detained. Occupation forces planted Islamic literature in his home, which was later used as part of the so-called “evidence” of his alleged involvement in “extremist activities.” Six of the detainees were sent to the Simferopol pre-trial detention center, while Sizikov was placed under house arrest.

On May 17, 2023, a Russian court in Rostov-on-Don unlawfully sentenced Oleksandr Sizikov to 17 years in a strict-regime colony, with 4 of those years to be served in prison.

Why was Oleksandr Sizikov actually detained?

Despite his disability and health issues, Oleksandr Sizikov was an active participant in community life, supported the religious community, and was known for helping other Muslims.

Sizikov frequently engaged in solo protests in Crimea, voicing his opposition to the arbitrary actions of the occupation administration and the unlawful arrests of Muslims. He also attended court hearings and supported the families of political prisoners, particularly advocating for the release of his guardian, Edem Smailov, who had been arrested by the occupation administration in May 2016.

His involvement in the movement for the rights of Muslims and his civic activism became the real reasons for his unlawful persecution.

Where is Oleksandr Sizikov now? 

On September 14, 2024, the appellate court in the city of Vlasikha, Moscow region, Russia, upheld the original verdict for Oleksandr Sizikov.

The very next day, occupation forces took Oleksandr from his home and transported him to an unknown location. It was later revealed that he had been placed in a temporary detention facility in Bakhchysarai, and later transferred to the Pre-trial Detention Center 1 in Simferopol. Despite his mother’s attempts to send him warm clothing via parcel, the facility refused to accept the package. Only later was his mother, Olena Sizykova, able to deliver clothing to him personally.

Two days after his placement in the Simferopol pre-trial detention center, his lawyer, Safiie Shabanova, filed a motion to suspend his transfer to a Russian colony. The motion cited Sizikov’s diagnosis, which is listed among the illnesses that prohibit incarceration, according to a 2004 Russian government decree. The lawyer also requested a medical commission be convened and appealed to the court to exempt Sizikov from serving his sentence due to his health condition. However, the court rejected these motions.

After spending 3 months in pre-trial detention center, confined to a small two-person cell of 8 square meters, Oleksandr Sizikov was unlawfully transferred from the detention center on December 9, 2024, to the Krasnoyarsk Region, Russia, more than 4,000 kilometers from Crimea.