The Southern District Military Court of the Russian Federation in Rostov-on-Don has issued a verdict in the case of Crimean Tatar Seyran Asanov, who was accused of “terrorism” and “treason” for his service in the 48th Separate Assault Battalion named after Noman Chelebi Dzhikhan. According to official court information, Asanov has been in captivity since October 2024.
This is reported by Finway
Charges and Case Progress
Russian investigative authorities stated that Seyran Asanov “voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine” with the aim of participating in the Crimean Tatar volunteer battalion named after Noman Chelebi Dzhikhan. According to the investigation, from July 15, 2024, he underwent training in tactics, shooting, combat skills, medicine, and physical fitness, and on August 20, he took the oath of a battalion fighter.
Verdict and Further Actions
The court found Asanov guilty and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment in a strict regime correctional colony, with the first 5 years to be served in prison. At this moment, the verdict has not yet entered into legal force and can be appealed.
“The FSB of Russia included the ‘Crimean Tatar Volunteer Battalion named after Noman Chelebi Dzhikhan’ in the list of ‘terrorist organizations’ in 2022.”
According to the Crimean Resource Center, since the beginning of the persecutions for participation in the battalion named after Chelebi Dzhikhan, the Russian authorities have detained at least 66 individuals, of whom 19 are in Crimea and 47 in the Kherson region.