freedom of speech
Russian-controlled “court” in occupied Melitopol sentenced journalist Iryna Levchenko to 15 years in prison
Levchenko’s name was not disclosed in the statement issued by the Russian security service, which referred to her only by the first letter of her surname
Illegally detained journalist Iryna Levchenko faces constant transfers for Russian investigations
Russian security forces transfer illegally imprisoned Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko every ten days from a Donetsk Detention Centre to temporarily occupied Melitopol for investigative actions before returning her to Donetsk, the journalist wrote in a letter recently received by her family.
‘Justice must be restored’: Ukraine puts ‘judge’ who sentenced journalist Semena in occupied Crimea on trial
In 2017, Mykola Semena, a journalist at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, found himself in the dock in occupied Crimea because of his professional work. It was one of the first cases on the Crimean Peninsula to clearly expose the occupation authorities’ crackdown on freedom of expression. Despite significant international outcry and calls to end the […]
UN Special Rapporteurs yet to respond to appeal concerning Iryna Danylovych
Two months after international organisations appealed to six UN Special Rapporteurs to help secure the release of Crimean citizen journalist Iryna Danylovych and protect her rights, the UN experts have yet to respond, Olha Novytska, the sister of journalist and activist Iryna Danylovych
First sentence for ‘activities against Russian security’ handed down in occupied Yalta
Article 280.4 of the Russian Criminal Code provides for liability for public calls for activities that the Russian authorities consider directed against the state's security. In Russian judicial practice, this article has been used, in particular, to persecute people over public statements related to the war against Ukraine
FSB detained man in occupied Yevpatoriia over support for Armed Forces of Ukraine on Telegram
Russia’s FSB stated that it has detained a local man born in 2002 in occupied Yevpatoriia, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, on suspicion of making public calls for extremist activity in Telegram posts, pro-Russian Telegram channels reported
Russian court sentenced occupied Melitopol resident to six years over Telegram comments
The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, has sentenced a resident of occupied Melitopol in the Zaporizhzhia Region to six years in a general-regime penal colony over comments posted on Telegram
Man in occupied Crimea fined over Telegram posts, and “judge” refers to him as a woman in ruling
The Russian-controlled “Kyivskyi District Court” of Simferopol fined Hennadii Yanchevskyi 30,000 roubles (approximately UAH 16,000) under the provision on the so-called “discrediting” of the Russian military. The fine was imposed over Telegram posts in which, according to the court, he expressed negative views of the actions of Russian troops and Russia’s war against Ukraine, ZMINA […]
Three years in Russian captivity: Anastasiia Hlukhovska still cut off from her family
The pre-trial Detention Centre No. 33 in Kyzyl remains the journalist’s last known place of detention. The facility has also been linked to the detention of other Ukrainian civilians, including journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna and Yevhen Matvieiev, the mayor of Dniprorudne, both of whom died in Russian captivity
Kherson region resident to stand trial in occupied Melitopol over Telegram comment
In occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Region (Oblast), Russian security officials have referred the case of a 43-year-old resident of Kherson Oblast to a Russian-controlled "court" over a comment posted on Telegram
Russia has not disclosed the whereabouts of Ukrainian journalist and political prisoner Heorhiy Levchenko after sentencing – RSF
The Russian authorities have not disclosed the whereabouts of Heorhiy Levchenko, an administrator of local media outlet RIA-Pivden’s Telegram channel, who was sentenced to 16 years in prison in September 2025 on charges of “high treason”, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported. Heorhiy Levchenko was an administrator of RIA-Pivden’s Telegram channel, formerly known as RIA-Melitopol. The Russian […]
Ethiopia targets independent media in escalating press freedom crackdown – rights groups
The Committee to Protect Journalists and Human Rights Watch say a raid on the offices of the Addis Standard was part of a wider pattern of targeting independent media
Russia steps up pressure on exiled journalists: Reporters Without Borders condemns new repressive law
Russian authorities continue to expand the legal mechanisms they use to persecute independent journalists. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned a new law unanimously passed by the Russian State Duma on 24 July, 2026. The law imposes further restrictions on people designated as "foreign agents" in Russia or linked to so-called "undesirable organisations"
Russia designated U.S.-based Crimean Tatar Foundation an “undesirable organisation”
Russian prosecutors also claim that the Crimean Tatar Foundation organises lectures, conferences and exhibitions covering the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people, Russia’s occupation of Crimea and its war against Ukraine
Russian Justice Ministry targets more activists of Crimean Solidarity grassroots movement
On 24 June 2026, the Russian Justice Ministry expanded the list of people it considers members of the Crimean Solidarity grassroots movement, which had previously been added to Russia’s register of foreign agents. The list now contains 137 names
OSCE condemns Russian strikes on Ukrainian newsrooms
The statement also refers to other recent attacks on Ukrainian regional media, including damage to the newsroom of Kordon.Media in Sumy on 17 July and to Inform.zp.ua in Zaporizhzhia on 21 July
Crimean Solidarity grass-roots initiative ceases operations
The movement stressed that many of its members who assisted victims of political repression had themselves faced fines, administrative detention and criminal prosecution. These activities were among the reasons why Crimean Solidarity was added to the register
Russian occupation forces detained man in Melitopol over online comments posted in 2022
Russian security forces claim that in September 2022, he posted messages in a public Telegram group for local residents. The occupation authorities classified them as "public calls to the performance of terrorist acts"
Columns
“Reaching an agreement with the US on what we disagree on”: What the campaign against ICC means for Ukraine
ICC must remain free from political pressure to bring justice to victims of world’s gravest crimes
Only 5% of those responsible for deporting Ukrainian children face global sanctions
The human safari: How Russia weaponized precision against Ukrainian civilians
