Human Rights Watch demands to stop the harassment of lawyers in the Crimea
The human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) demands to stop the harassment of lawyers, who are the defense of Crimean Tatars in the occupied Crimea.
As stated in the statement of the organization.
The Human Rights Watch considers that lawyer’s clients “are being prosecuted on politically motivated charges in retaliation for their activism”.
“With the detention of lawyers defending Crimean Tatar activists, the Russian authorities are going even further to undermine human rights protections and the rule of law in occupied Crimea. The Russian authorities should stop harassing lawyers and activists and guarantee Crimean Tatars’ rights”, – said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia division director at Human Rights Watch.
As a reminder, last week, officers of the “Ministry of Foreign Affairs” arrested and sentenced Emil Kurbedinov to 10 days in detention. De facto authorities on the peninsula declared a special operation against the religious organization “Hizb ut-Tahrir”. The Kremlin-controlled so-called Supreme Court of Crimea upheld the decision of the court of first instance.
On January 25, in Simferopol officers of the FSB detained lawyer Mykola Polozov for a forced interrogation. Mykola Polozov defended the interests of Ahtem Chiygoz, the Deputy Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, and Ilmi Umerov in the court.
Meanwhile, Valeriya Lutkovska, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, is concerned about the adherence to the right to protection of Emil Kurbedinov.
“As for the current situation with lawyer Emil Kurbedinov… On January 30, I addressed Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia’s Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding the realization the right to protection of those who were represented by Emil Kurbedinov”, – quotes the Ombudsman Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
