All assessments of the criminal prosecution of specific individuals, including the designation of detained persons as political prisoners, reflect the position of our Project. Such assessments are not based on the views and assessments of the individuals being prosecuted, their families, friends or lawyers, and do not imply their consent or approval. The information regarding the facts of specific criminal cases published on our Project’s website has been obtained from public sources and does not imply or require the consent of the individuals mentioned therein or their representatives.

Бектемиров Вадим Заидинович

Date of birth: July 9, 1981 (44 years old)
citizenship: Россия; Украина
Article of the Criminal Code:  205.5 ч. 2
Form of repression:  deprivation of liberty
Pursuit stage:  решение суда вступило в силу
Date of arrest:  July 7, 2020
Sentence:  11 лет лишения свободы в колонии строгого режима, из них 3 года в тюрьме
Date of sentencing:  February 11, 2022
Current location:  Penal Colony No. 6, Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia for Leningrad Oblast

Bektemirov Vadim Zaidinovich, born July 9, 1981 in Uzbekistan, returned to Crimea with his family in 1990. Crimean Tatar, resident of Simferopol, citizen of Ukraine and of the Russian Federation. Graduate of the Faculty of Arabic Language and Literature, Department of Islamic Education of Al-Jinan University in Lebanon, holds a master's degree in Islamic Teachings. Worked as a translator, was not officially employed. Married, has three young children.

Before his arrest, he was actively involved in helping persecuted co-religionists in Crimea, performed dua (Muslim prayers) in support of the families of political prisoners, organised parcels for arrested Crimean Tatars, attended court hearings on politically motivated cases.

Charged with committing a crime under Part 2 of Art. 205.5 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation"). He was sentenced to 11 years in a strict regime penal colony.

He has been in custody since July 7, 2020.