Today, we share the story of Crimean Tatars Rustem Seitmemetov, Osman, and Seitumer Seitumerov, who were unlawfully sentenced by the occupiers to 13, 14, and 17 years in maximum-security penal colonies.
Life before the detention
Rustem Seitmemetov was born on March 28, 1973, in Charkhin, Samarkand region, Uzbekistan. His nephews, Seitumer and Osman Seitumerov, were born on June 28, 1988, in the same town and on June 4, 1992, in Bakhchysarai, respectively, after their family returned to Crimea in 1989.
After graduating from the pedagogical institute, Rustem worked for two years at a school, after which he went to work in Portugal, where he made ceramic sinks. Osman entered the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University, majoring in the operation and repair of urban transport, and Seitumer entered the V.I. Vernadskyi Taurida National University, choosing the history department.
What did the occupiers come up with?
On March 11, 2020, as part of a systematic policy of repression, the occupation administration’s security forces conducted regular illegal searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars in Bakhchysarai, during which five people were detained, including Rustem Seitmemetov, as well as his two nephews, Osman and Seitumer Seitumerov and Amet Suleimanov.
On October 29, 2021, a court in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don issued an illegal verdict, sentencing Rustem to 13 years in a maximum security colony, of which he must spend 3.6 years in prison, Osman to 14 years, and Seitumer to 17 years.
On the same day, in Simferopol, the occupiers detained more than 30 Crimean Tatar activists who had gathered near the “court” building to support the prisoners.
Why were Rustem Seitmemetov, Osman, and Seitumer Seitumerov actually detained?
Like many other Crimean Tatars, Rustem Seitmemetov, Osman, and Seitumer Seitumerov have been targeted by the occupation administration for their ethnic and religious affiliation and civic activities. Their detention is part of a large-scale campaign aimed at suppressing any manifestations of resistance and solidarity among the Crimean Tatar people. Like many other political prisoners, they were arrested on trumped-up charges of “terrorism” and “extremism.”
Rustem, Osman, and Seitumer actively supported their fellow citizens subjected to political persecution. They attended court hearings in Crimea and the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, helped the families of political prisoners, organized parcels, and participated in civic initiatives. Their activities, including the organization of children’s parties and cultural events, have become an essential factor in preserving the identity of Crimean Tatars.
Where are Rustem Seitmemetov, and Osman, and Seitumer Seitumerov now?
On February 9, the Court of Appeals in Vlasikha, Moscow region, Russia, denied the appeals of political prisoners seeking to overturn their sentences.
On April 21, 2023, Rustem Seitmemetov was unlawfully transferred from the pre-trial detention center in Novocherkassk, Rostov region, to Prison No. 1 in Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk region, Russia. He remained there until July 2024, after which he was once again transferred to a penal colony in Salavat, Bashkortostan, located more than 2,000 km from Crimea.
During his time in captivity, Rustem’s health significantly deteriorated. While in the pre-trial detention center, he lost 15 kg in weight. His vision worsened, he began to experience frequent fluctuations in blood pressure, and the heat caused his legs to swell, forcing him to take medication continuously. He also suffers from hypothermia and severe back problems, which have only worsened during his imprisonment. He must perform physical exercises inside his cell to stay warm.
In December 2023, Rustem was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes and in May 2024, he suffered a heart attack. On October 7, 2024, he reported being transported for medical treatment, but there has been no contact with him since then.
“His health was poor; he was suffering from high blood pressure and chest pain. Since October 7, I have no idea which hospital he was taken to or what his diagnosis was. We have submitted an inquiry to the colony and await an official response,” Rustem Seitmemetov’s wife, Zera, said.
Rustem’s nephews—brothers Osman and Seitumer Seitumerov—were also held in Novocherkassk during court proceedings and transferred to a prison in Vladimir in 2023.
“They were transported in Stolypin train cars. From the start of their transfer, there was no information about their whereabouts,” said Pakize, the wife of Seitumer Seitumerov.
During his unlawful detention, Seitumer Seitumerov’s dental health significantly deteriorated. He also developed a persistent cough caused by the damp conditions inside his cell.
His brother, Osman Seitumerov, experienced severe health complications. His chronic illnesses, including gastritis and peptic ulcer disease, worsened. He also faces the long-term effects of a head injury sustained during a traffic accident in his youth. Osman is confined in a cell approximately 5 by 4 meters, shared with five other detainees, with no access to hot water. The high humidity inside the cell exacerbates his health issues, leading to chronic coughing. He is forced to work in a production workshop six days a week, adding additional physical strain on his body. Recently, he required urgent medical care due to a sudden flare of his gastritis.