Date of Birth: November 30, 1971

Abducted Since: March 27, 2022

Last Known Location: Village of Novooleksiivka, Kherson Region

Political Sponsor: Turgut Yüksel (SPD, Member of the State Parliament of Hesse)

Rustem is a Crimean Tatar who lived in the Kherson region and worked as a taxi driver. He is married and the father of three children.

Imprisonment

On March 27, 2022, Rustem traveled with his wife, 6-year-old daughter, and 82-year-old mother from the occupied Kherson region to Crimea. He intended to bring his youngest daughter to relatives in Crimea, believing it would be safer for her there. However, at the “Chonhar” checkpoint, Rustem was stopped by Russian military personnel. He was held at the checkpoint for 58 hours. Then he was forcibly taken away, blindfolded, and transported to an unknown location. All of this took place in front of his six-year-old daughter.

On October 25, 2022, the district court of Simferopol sentenced him to 8.5 years in a penal colony under Article 208, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (“participation in an armed group”). Rustem fully denies the charges. The sentence was confirmed by Judge Olga Kuznetsova.

As of October 3, 2023, Rustem has been held in High-Security Prison No. 2 (“Vladimir Central”) in the Vladimir Region, Russia. Since May 2024, he has been incarcerated in Penal Colony No. 8 in the city of Ulan-Ude (Republic of Buryatia, Russia).

Health Condition

Rustem’s state of health is unsatisfactory. On 26 September 2023, Rustem managed to call his cousin. He reports that he was tortured in the remand prison in Simferopol: he was forced to sit on narrow benches in his cell from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. without being allowed to lie down or move. He was put under psychological pressure. Russ’s health deteriorated: his heart problems got worse and his hearing deteriorated. He lost a lot of weight. His legs are swollen and he suffers from severe shortness of breath. He receives no medical help.

Status: As of May 2024

Letter to the Russian Ambassador

Subject: Request for the immediate release of Ukrainian civilian Rustem Huhuryk

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudswoman Moskalkova,

I am writing to draw your attention to the arbitrary detention of Ukrainian civilian Rustem Huhuryk (born 30.11.1971), who was innocently abducted and arrested on 27 March 2022 in the village of Novooleksiyivka (Kherson region).

On 27 March 2022, Rustem was stopped by the Russian military at the ‘Chongar’ checkpoint. They held him at the checkpoint for 58 hours. He was then forcibly taken out and blindfolded and taken in an unknown direction. All of this happened in front of his six-year-old daughter. On 25 October 2022, the Simferopol District Court sentenced him to 8.5 years in a penal colony under Article 208 (2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (‘participation in an armed formation’). Rustem denies his guilt in full. As of May 2024, Rustem is imprisoned in penal colony no. 8 in the city of Ulan-Ude (Republic of Buryatia, Russia).

I find the reports of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners in Russian detention centers and remand prisons particularly disturbing. Rustem Huhuryk is an innocent civilian detained without any legitimate legal basis. The rights and freedoms of the persons concerned must be fully respected and protected.

I appeal to you to advocate for the lawful and humane treatment of all civilian prisoners in Russia, especially the abducted Ukrainians. Please allow him to contact his family and provide him with legal representation.

Yours sincerely,

Letter to the Ukrainian Authorities

Dear Ambassador [INSERT] /Dear Ombudsman Lubinets,

I am writing to draw your attention to the abduction by the Russian military of Ukrainian civilian Rustem Huhuryk (born 30.11.1971), who was innocently captured on 27 March 2022 in the village of Novooleksiyivka (Kherson region). Please note his fate in the register of missing persons in special circumstances.

On 27 March 2022, Rustem was stopped by the Russian military at the ‘Chongar’ checkpoint. They held him at the checkpoint for 58 hours. He was then forcibly taken out and blindfolded and taken in an unknown direction. All of this happened in front of his six-year-old daughter. On 25 October 2022, the Simferopol District Court sentenced him to 8.5 years in a penal colony under Article 208(2) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (‘participation in an armed formation’). Rustem denies his guilt in full. As of May 2024, Rustem is imprisoned in penal colony no. 8 in the city of Ulan-Ude (Republic of Buryatia, Russia).

I received the information about the prisoner from the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR), an organization that campaigns for Ukrainian civilian prisoners through public relations work, appeals and sponsorships. The organization is in close contact with family members of the deportees and endeavors to draw attention to the situation of the deported Ukrainians and the torture to which they are subjected in Russian captivity.

I have appealed to the Russian authorities, drawing attention to the situation of Rustem Huhuryk and calling for his release.

Thank you for your tireless work to protect the Ukrainian people and your commitment to the abducted civilians.

Yours sincerely,

Addresses

Ombudswoman of the Russian Federation
Tatyana H. Moskalkova
Smolenskij, d. 19, str. 2
119121 Moscow
Russia

Ombudsman (Human Rights Commissioner) of Ukraine
Dmytro Lubinets
Human Rights Commissioner in the Ukrainian Parliament
Vulica Instytutska, 21/8
01008 Kyiv
Ukraine
Email: hotline@ombudsman.gov.ua

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