CrimeaSOS: a new raid by security forces in Crimea is another attack on independent lawyers
11 / 12 / 2025
This morning, employees of the Centre “E” came to the office of Crimean lawyers with a search.
“The raid on the office of human rights defenders of Crimean Solidarity undermines the independence of legal practice in Crimea,” – noted a CrimeaSOS lawyer.
According to him, such actions violate Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to a fair trial, which is impossible without independent lawyers. Systematic deprivation of status, arrests, and disciplinary actions for speaking out about human rights violations can be considered repression against human rights defenders, which is contrary to the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
In the context of occupied Crimea, these actions also violate the norms of international humanitarian law, in particular Article 64 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which limits the use of own legislation by the occupying power to persecute the local population.
According to the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990), lawyers have the right to exercise their professional duties without intimidation, hindrance or harassment. Restrictions on access to the office, searches, and pressure on lawyers contradict these principles.
Given the systematic nature of such cases, an immediate response from international organizations – the UN Human Rights Council, the OSCE, and international bar associations – is necessary to stop the persecution and bring the perpetrators to justice.
We previously noted that such searches in Crimea often coincide with memorable dates. Yesterday the world celebrated Human Rights Day, and today russian security forces are conducting raids against Crimean lawyers: such a coincidence only intensifies the feeling of demonstrative pressure.
As a reminder, on December 15, UN member states will vote on a Resolution on the protection of human rights in the TOT (temporarily occupied territories), which also mentions the persecution of independent lawyers.