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November 28, 2025 – Crimea/Russia –
A Russian military court has sentenced Vilen Temeryanov — a Crimean-Tatar journalist and citizen reporter — to 14 years in prison, in what press-freedom advocates call yet another act of repression against independent journalism in occupied Crimea.
On November 26, 2025, the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don found Temeryanov guilty of alleged involvement with the banned group Hizb ut‑Tahrir, accusing him of participating in its activities and preparing a violent seizure of power. Prosecutors claim the deeply contested verdict reflects supposed “terrorist activity,” yet journalists who worked with Temeryanov, rights groups, and independent observers describe the charges as fabricated and politically motivated.
Temeryanov was first detained on August 11, 2022, after authorities raided his home in the village of Vilne in Crimea. His work included reporting for independent outlets, including the civic group Crimean Solidarity and the online platform Grani. Many of his peers believe the swift, harsh verdict aims to stifle free expression and intimidate other journalists operating under occupation.
Under the ruling, Temeryanov will serve the first three years in a standard prison, then be transferred to a strict-security penal colony for the remainder of his sentence. Throughout the trial, Temeryanov denied all charges and called for justice. On November 25, the day before sentencing, he appealed directly to the court: “My life has been devoted to journalism and truth. I did nothing illegal,” he said.
Human-rights organisations such as Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have condemned the ruling and called on Russian occupation authorities to release Temeryanov immediately, pointing out that at least a dozen Ukrainian journalists — many Crimean Tatars — are currently jailed under similar charges.
The verdict against Temeryanov is not just the punishment of one man. It underscores a systematic crackdown on independent media voices in Russian-occupied Crimea, raising profound questions about the future of press freedom and the safety of journalists who continue working under repression.
Reference –
Crimean journalist Vilen Temeryanov sentenced to 14 years in jail
