CrimeaSOS: the status of “foreign agent” gives the occupiers additional leverage to persecute activists in Crimea  

russian authorities have included Crimean journalist and human rights activist Lutfiie Zudiieva on the list of so-called “foreign agents.” CrimeaSOS believes that this opens up new opportunities for repression of activists who highlight the real situation on the occupied peninsula. 

This is another attempt to silence the voice that exposes the violations and crimes of the occupation regime, and to squeeze it out of the peninsula, clearing the information space for propaganda. 

Moreover, granting such status to Lutfiie allows the occupation’s special services persecuting even more people in Crimea who will quote or repost the human rights activist on social networks without indicating her “special status.” 

In addition, the “assignment” of such a status takes time, meaning the occupation authorities made this decision much earlier. It is noteworthy that such acts of persecution occur on the eve of significant dates, as is usually the case with warnings about the inadmissibility of committing a crime, which they distribute to activists.  

Recall that since 2012, the russian federation has had legislation on “foreign agents”, which allows for repressive control over the activities of independent journalists, human rights defenders and organizations. CrimeaSOS has repeatedly reported the persecution of Crimean activists, particularly on the eve of memorable dates. In particular, on the eve of May 18, 2024, the occupation police officers handed Lutfiie a warning about the inadmissibility of committing an offense. Another activist and nurse, Iryna Danylovych, was added to the list of foreign agents in June 2022. In April of the same year, she was abducted by occupation forces and later sentenced to 7 years in prison.