Open Letter in Support of Granting Political Asylum to Raushan Gizatullin

We, representatives of national movements, civic organizations, civil initiatives, democratic associations, and governments in exile, urgently appeal for political asylum to be granted to Raushan Ildarovich Gizatullin, born May 29, 1979, an ethnic Tatar and citizen of the Russian Federation.

Raushan Gizatullin has been an active participant in the Tatar national movement since 2015 and has cooperated with the All-Tatar Public Center. In 2016, he became a member of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile.

The principal focus of his activities has been the protection of the linguistic, cultural, and political rights of the Tatar people. He opposed the abolition of compulsory Tatar-language instruction in schools in Tatarstan. He participated in peaceful memorial events commemorating the defenders of Kazan in 1552, which were prohibited by the republic’s authorities. He also participated in anti-government demonstrations near the Kazan Kremlin. Participants in these demonstrations were subjected to persecution.

In 2021, Mr. Gizatullin was forced to leave Russia due to pressure and torture by the FSB.

Since then, he has continued his peaceful human rights activities abroad. From 2022 to 2024, he participated in events organized by the All-Tatar Public Center in Antalya.

At present, Raushan Gizatullin’s return to the Russian Federation is impossible and would pose a danger to his life.

The Russian authorities have designated the All-Tatar Public Center and the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile as “terrorist organizations.” As of 2026, Mr. Gizatullin serves as the official Representative of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile in the Free State of Bavaria.

Under Russian anti-terrorism legislation, he faces criminal prosecution and imprisonment for up to 20 years solely for his peaceful political activities.

In addition, Mr. Gizatullin has publicly and repeatedly condemned the Russian Federation’s military aggression against Ukraine. Given the ongoing repression of anti-war activists, he faces the risk of arrest, torture, and a lengthy prison sentence.

As an ethnic Tatar, he is also at increased risk of forced mobilization into the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, despite his categorical opposition to the war.

The deportation of Raushan Gizatullin to Russia would inevitably result in criminal prosecution on political grounds.

In view of the above, and guided by the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, we urgently call upon the authorities of the Free State of Bavaria and the Federal Republic of Germany to grant Mr. Raushan Ildarovich Gizatullin political asylum and protection.

Respectfully,

1. Rafis Kashapov — Prime Minister of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile
2. Vil Mirzayanov — Honorary Adviser to the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile
3. Isa Sadykov — Honorary Consul of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile in Azerbaijan
4. Nafis Kashapov — Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile
5. Marat Akhmerov — Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile for Legal and Legislative Affairs
6. Zufar Zainullin — Ambassador of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile to the Republic of Latvia
7. Vyacheslav Sivchik — Honorary Consul of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile in Belarus
8. Dmitry Kuznetsov — Representative of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile in Finland
9. Kamil Sukaev — Ambassador of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile to the United States / Representative of the Free Idel-Ural movement, New York, USA
10. Baatr Pyurbeev — Representative of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile for Relations with Mongolic Peoples
11. Zilya Usmanova — activist of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile in the United States
12. Alina Koltsova — activist of the Government of Independent Tatarstan in Exile in Sweden

Public Figures and Organizations:

1. Farit Zakiyev — Chairman of the All-Tatar Public Center (VTOTs)
2. Rizvan Kubakayev — Nogai civic activist and publicist
3. Sergey Kryukov — publicist and civic activist, France
4. Vladimir Kostenko — civic activist, Washington, USA
5. Roza Kurban — writer, Ankara, Türkiye
6. Musa Temishev — journalist, publicist, theorist of the Chechen revolution who cooperated with the government of Dzhokhar Dudayev, Germany
7. Gennady Shkirya-Banashinsky — human rights advocate, Germany
8. Edige Bekmurzayev — “Free Nogai El,” Türkiye
9. Alexander Kosovsky — civic activist
10. Tagir Minibayev — civic activist and political émigré, Germany
11. Rakhimya Akhmerova — “Alty Ay”
12. Guzaliya Daudova — Uzbekistan
13. Tatyana Zhuridova — author of The Invasion of Crimea. 2014, Poland
14. Abdullah Türer Yener — politician, World Union of Turks Forum, Istanbul, Türkiye
15. Hryhorii Bondarchuk — journalist, National News Agency of Ukraine — Ukrinform
16. Bulat Sayfutdinov — Candidate of Chemical Sciences, member of the Council of Tatars of the World (“Tatar Shurasy”)
17. Andrey Sidelnikov — leader of the international movement “Speak Louder!”
18. Zurtan Khaltarov — Buryat Republican Center, Warsaw
19. Piotr Hlebowicz — activist of the anti-communist opposition in the Polish People’s Republic, Co-Chair of the Anti-Imperial Bloc “Fighting Solidarity,” Poland
20. Oles Shevchenko — Chairman of the Kyiv Society of Political Prisoners and Repressed Persons, Ukraine
21. Matvii Bondar — Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN)
22. Dmytro Vlasov — National Liberation Movement “Seversky Krai”
23. Mykyta Bozhenko — head of the historical club “Khoruhva”
24. “Kaiser” — leader of the All-Ukrainian Association of Nationalist Great-Power Advocates
25. Nazar Karimov — member of the historical clubs “Kholodnyi Yar” and “Khoruhva,” the Union of Ukrainian Dignity and Freedom, and the People’s Movement of Ukraine political party
26. Volodymyr Volodymyrovych Bilotserkivskyi (Rostovskyi) — head of the Society of Ukrainian Nationalists
27. Yerzhan Turgumbay — founder of “Erkin Qazaq,” President of the Congress of Autochthonous Peoples of Eurasia
28. Khasanboy Burkhanov — leader of the opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston” (“Free Uzbekistan”), Germany
29. Irek Garif — head of the Australian Tatar Society “Turan,” Adelaide, Australia
30. Yuri Fedorenkov — civic activist, London, United Kingdom
31. Ilshat Kinzyabayev — Bashkir activist and nationalist, supporter of the decolonization of Russia
32. Khusein Iskhanov — Member of the Parliament of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, head of the Association of Chechen Democrats
33. Enver Sherfiev — civic activist, Vinnytsia, Ukraine
34. Aman Sagidullayev — Representative of the Government of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in Exile and the Democratic Party “Alga Karakalpakstan,” Norway
35. Farit Mardanov — civic activist, VKK, Kazakhstan
36. Gurban Mammadli Jalal oglu — owner and host of AzerFreedom TV, lawyer and politician, United Kingdom
37. Nikolai Lobachevsky — civic activist, New York, USA
38. Aaly Tokombaev — artist, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
39. Khasukha Magamadov — political émigré, Saint-Lô, France
40. Tatyana Nyberg — Magnitsky Law Initiative, Rome, Italy
41. Alexander Bursanidis — tour guide and publicist, Greece
42. Natalia Sazonova — interior designer, Rome, Italy
43. Farit Abdrakhimov — civic activist, Helsinki, Finland
44. Dmitry Kalashnikov — civic activist, Oslo, Norway
45. Nariman Dzhulumbetov — civic activist, Astana, Kazakhstan
46. Janos Borkai — lawyer, Budapest, Hungary
47. Rimma Baranenko — Kherson, Ukraine
48. Nailya Vakhitova — tour guide, Istanbul, Türkiye
49. Vadim Titov — musician, civic activist and political émigré, New York, USA
50. Nedim Khalilov — civic activist, Toronto, Canada
51. Boris Zvyagintsev — artist, Tokyo, Japan
52. Anatoly Dubovik — historian and anarchist, Dnipro, Ukraine
53. Khizir Magomedov — civic activist and political émigré, Rome, Italy
54. Petimat Tepsaeva — physician, Bern, Switzerland
55. Sergey Ivanov — civic activist, Sofia, Bulgaria
56. Vitaly Ginzburg — publicist, blogger, participant in FSR and FSFPR
57. National Liberation Movement “Free Circassia”
58. “Circassian Agency” Movement
59. Nikita Mazunin — nationalist activist
60. Rostislav Pobedin — Russian opposition journalist and politician