repressions in Crimea

Abductions: from sensation to routine. How the practice of enforced disappearances has changed in the occupied Crimea
Articles - 17 October 2024

Abductions: from sensation to routine. How the practice of enforced disappearances has changed in the occupied Crimea

Enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and politically motivated prosecutions in the occupied Crimea have become the routine. This statement was made by human rights defenders at a session of the UN Human Rights Council last week. 

Ukraine sanctions 11 more illegitimate “judges” in Russian-occupied Crimea for persecuting residents and indigenous people
News - 12 October 2024

Ukraine sanctions 11 more illegitimate “judges” in Russian-occupied Crimea for persecuting residents and indigenous people

The Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea views these sanctions as a crucial tool in disrupting repressive mechanisms in the temporarily occupied territories and limiting the occupation administration's ability to continue persecutions

Ukraine to give Vatican list of journalists illegally held by Russia – Zelenskyy
News - 11 October 2024

Ukraine to give Vatican list of journalists illegally held by Russia – Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy and the Pope agreed that Ukraine would provide a list of journalists currently held captive in Russia and would discuss the release of civilians and deported children

Special unit evacuates Navy officer’s family facing FSB persecution in temporarily occupied Crimea
News - 07 October 2024

Special unit evacuates Navy officer’s family facing FSB persecution in temporarily occupied Crimea

Russians held illegally the entire family for three days, subjected to psychological pressure and threats of torture. In doing so, the Russians were planning to coerce the Ukrainian officer to cooperate

Kremlin’s forgotten political prisoners in Crimea: Human rights advocates urge global focus on Ukrainian hostages at the Crimea Platform
Articles - 23 September 2024

Kremlin’s forgotten political prisoners in Crimea: Human rights advocates urge global focus on Ukrainian hostages at the Crimea Platform

In this article, ZMINA reveals what was debated on the sidelines of the summit, the potential prerequisites for peace, the scale of the crisis involving Crimeans persecuted by Russia, and why raising awareness is crucial to achieving justice

Understanding Russia’s colonial aspirations is key to peace talks
Columns - 16 September 2024

Understanding Russia’s colonial aspirations is key to peace talks

Rory Finnin insists, when discussing peace in Ukraine, it's impossible to ignore the historical context. The Crimean Peninsula, home to Crimean Tatars for centuries, has become a symbol of Russian imperial ambitions. Understanding this complex history is crucial for countering Kremlin propaganda and finding ways to justly resolve the conflict

Zelenskyy pleads for Muslim nations to lead efforts in freeing Crimean Tatars and other political prisoners illegally detained by Russia
News - 14 September 2024

Zelenskyy pleads for Muslim nations to lead efforts in freeing Crimean Tatars and other political prisoners illegally detained by Russia

Zelenskyy emphasised the need for pressure on Russia from all partners to establish a proper exchange system based on the principle of "everyone for everyone." Zelenskyy pointed out that, based on previous experience, releasing political prisoners has been extremely challenging

Illegitimate “court” in occupied Crimea sentences Hurzuf resident to 13 years for alleged “high treason”
News - 23 August 2024

Illegitimate “court” in occupied Crimea sentences Hurzuf resident to 13 years for alleged “high treason”

The illegitimate “prosecutor's office” report provided no details of the case

Crimean courage: risking freedom for Ukrainian identity
Columns - 14 July 2024

Crimean courage: risking freedom for Ukrainian identity

The President's Mission to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea observes numerous persecution cases in the so-called “courts,” including the illegitimate one in occupied Armyansk. People are prosecuted after “filtration measures” – stopped, checked by the FSB, and detained if anything related to Ukraine is found on their phones or in notebooks. There are many such cases, and we need to talk about those who suffer

Journalism under siege for over a decade in temporarily occupied Crimea: How Russia has stifled freedom of the press on the Ukrainian peninsula
News - 10 June 2024

Journalism under siege for over a decade in temporarily occupied Crimea: How Russia has stifled freedom of the press on the Ukrainian peninsula

The policy of destroying independent media deprives Crimean residents of access to information from independent journalists, creating a propaganda bubble

De-identified Crimea: Occupying state massively eradicates ethnic celebrations – Amnesty International
News - 23 May 2024

De-identified Crimea: Occupying state massively eradicates ethnic celebrations – Amnesty International

Amnesty International concluded, that Russia has had ten years to implement its policies designed to alter the ethnic makeup of and suppress non-Russian identities in Crimea

Russia’s forced demographic changes in Crimea violate international law – Amnesty International
News - 15 May 2024

Russia’s forced demographic changes in Crimea violate international law – Amnesty International

Russia has had ten years to implement its policies designed to alter the ethnic makeup of and suppress non-Russian identities in Crimea. Through population transfer and coercive policies targeting minorities, it has sought to dilute and remove Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar identity from the peninsula

Russian occupying authorities harassed journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva in Ukraine’s Crimea
News - 13 May 2024

Russian occupying authorities harassed journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva in Ukraine’s Crimea

Lutfiye Zudiyeva has covered the plight and trials of Crimean political prisoners as a member of the grassroots initiative Crimean Solidarity since 2016. She joined the editorial staff of the media project Graty in July 2021 and is interning in forensic journalism and storytelling

Russia militarizes education and erases cultural identity of children in temporarily occupied Crimea – UN and Amnesty International
News - 13 May 2024

Russia militarizes education and erases cultural identity of children in temporarily occupied Crimea – UN and Amnesty International

The International Court of Justice found that the way in which Russia had implemented its educational system in Crimea after 2014 with regard to school education in the Ukrainian language had violated its obligations under Articles 2(1)(a) and 5(v) of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

Ten years of occupation of Crimea: memories of Crimean journalists on how it began
Articles - 18 April 2024

Ten years of occupation of Crimea: memories of Crimean journalists on how it began

The event participants also watched the documentary by the reporter’s team of Crimea.Realities titled “The first pro-Ukrainian action in Simferopol after the Russian troops’ arrival: risk, “traitors of Crimea,” and abduction”

Russia has been suppressing freedom of expression and religion during years of temporarily occupation of Crimea – UN and Amnesty International
News - 11 April 2024

Russia has been suppressing freedom of expression and religion during years of temporarily occupation of Crimea – UN and Amnesty International

In temporarily occupied Crimea, Russia has significantly curtailed the space for civil society to function, including criticizing or advocating. Media outlets have been shut down, disproportionately impacting Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian communities' rights to free expression, information access, and cultural expression

“There are no LGBTQ+ people in Crimea”: Russia cracked down on the LGBTQ+ сommunity in the temporarily occupied peninsula
News - 07 April 2024

“There are no LGBTQ+ people in Crimea”: Russia cracked down on the LGBTQ+ сommunity in the temporarily occupied peninsula

As of 2014, the number of representatives of the LGBT+ community in Crimea amounted to approximately 16,200 persons. However, the number of people who remain in the territory in 2023 is unknown

A decade of repressions: Crimean Tatars and Ukrainains targeted in Russia’s brutal crackdown on dissent
News - 22 March 2024

A decade of repressions: Crimean Tatars and Ukrainains targeted in Russia’s brutal crackdown on dissent

Amnesty International stated that with international crimes, Russia has attempted to change the ethnic makeup of Crimea while suppressing non-Russian identities on the peninsula, including through restricting education in Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages, attacking religious minorities, stifling media and culture, as well as undermining representative institutions and abusing the criminal justice system