{"id":85156,"date":"2026-02-20T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ppu.gov.ua\/?post_type=press-center&p=85156"},"modified":"2026-02-23T13:24:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T11:24:19","slug":"the-face-of-resistance-the-story-of-crimean-tatar-activist-seitveli-seitabdiev","status":"publish","type":"press-center","link":"https:\/\/ppu.gov.ua\/en\/press-center\/the-face-of-resistance-the-story-of-crimean-tatar-activist-seitveli-seitabdiev\/","title":{"rendered":"The Face of Resistance: The Story of Crimean Tatar Activist Seitveli Seitabdiev"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Life before the detention<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seitveli Seitabdiev was born on March 16, 1994, in Simferopol. He studied at Kamyanska School No. 42 and, after graduating, enrolled in a technical college where he qualified as a road transport manager. He later continued his education at a university and earned a higher education degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before his detention, Seitveli led an active civic life and did not stand aside from the problems of others. In particular, he organised parcels with necessary items for Crimean Tatars and pro-Ukrainian activists illegally detained by the “occupying administration”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Persecution<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 27, 2019, Russian security forces conducted mass searches in the homes of Crimean Tatars, subsequently detaining more than two dozen people. Seitveli Seitabdiev was one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “occupying administration” accused Seitveli of alleged involvement in the activities of the Islamic political organisation Hizb ut-Tahrir, which Russia considers a terrorist group. Seitabdiev was also charged with allegedly preparing for a “violent seizure of power.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seitveli’s case was included in the so-called second Simferopol group. On March 18, 2022, a “court” in Rostov-on-Don sentenced him to 14 years of imprisonment in a strict-regime colony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind the Bars<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While in custody, Seitveli Seitabdiev repeatedly stated that his rights were being violated and that the persecution was illegal. In 2021, in “court,” he filed a motion to have the evidence seized during the search declared inadmissible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2022, Seitveli fell ill during a court hearing. He complained of weakness and symptoms similar to a coronavirus infection. An ambulance was called to the “court,” but the paramedics, without conducting a test, declared him “healthy” after only a superficial examination. His defense team and family reported a lack of proper medical care in the pre-trial detention center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In March 2022, during his final statement, he declared the political nature of the case and emphasized that the persecution of Crimean Tatars in Crimea is systemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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