Today, Rustem Huhurik celebrates his 53rd birthday. A father of many children, a Crimean Tatar, and a symbol of the fight for justice, Rustem was unlawfully sentenced by Russian occupiers to 8.5 years in a maximum-security penal colony. He was accused of alleged involvement in the Noman Çelebicihan Volunteer Battalion, an organization that Russian authorities deem “illegal.”

On March 27, 2022, Rustem was detained at the administrative border with Crimea while trying to take his wife and six-year-old daughter to relatives in Bakhchysarai to protect them from the consequences of Russia’s invasion. In the court controlled by the occupation administration, “secret” witnesses testified against Rustem, claiming they saw him delivering supplies and food to the battalion. These fabricated allegations became the basis for his arrest and subsequent harsh sentence.

Rustem is currently held in a penal colony in Buriatiia. Due to poor detention conditions, his health has significantly deteriorated: he suffers from constant shortness of breath, severe stomach pain after every meal, serious dental issues, and has completely lost hearing in one ear. Despite this, the colony administration denies him medical care, imposes additional psychological pressure, and blocks his ability to file complaints about the violations. In 2024 alone, Rustem was placed in solitary confinement three times, a clear example of the repressive measures against him.

As his wife Viktoriia shared in a comment, Rustem’s love for his family is his primary source of strength in this difficult struggle. His daughter Liana asks about her father every day, and her innocent dreams and hope inspire the entire family to believe that the day of their reunion will come. She draws pictures for her father, which she plans to give him when he returns. Her faith and love help Rustem to keep fighting and not give up.

“Rustem is a kind and compassionate person who was always ready to help others. He is a loving father and a dependable husband with whom one always felt safe and at peace,” Viktoriia shared.

Like many Crimean Tatars, Rustem finds strength in his faith in God, which helps him maintain his moral resolve and wait for his return home. His non-confrontational nature and good relationships with other prisoners help him endure the challenges, even under harsh conditions.

Russian authorities are doing everything they can to limit his connection with his family. Viktoriia noted that due to the remote location of the penal colony, personal visits are nearly impossible. Despite all the difficulties, his family is doing everything possible to support him, including transferring funds for food and drawing attention to his case.

Rustem’s wife firmly believes that public and international attention can ease his detention conditions and ultimately lead to his release from Russian captivity.

“We need his support and love. Every day, our daughter asks when her father will come home. She dreams of us being together again. Her heart is full of hope, and she eagerly awaits the day when her father will be back. I believe that children’s dreams must come true, and we will certainly be reunited in our native Ukraine,” Viktoriia said.

Today, Rustem should have been with his family and daughter. Yet, because of Russian criminals, he is forced to fight for his life under inhumane conditions.

Share his story and the stories of other Kremlin prisoners. Together, we bring closer the day when Rustem and all Ukrainian political prisoners will celebrate their birthdays in a free and peaceful Crimea, surrounded by family and friends.