CrimeaSOS: cases of enforced disappearances of women are increasing in the occupied Crimea  

The number of enforced disappearances in the occupied Crimea is increasing. Dozens of people go missing every year, the number of women among them is growing. This was announced by CrimeaSOS advocacy expert Artem Oliinyk during a side event in Geneva within the framework of the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council, organized by Human Rights House Crimea. 

“One of the most alarming trends is the increase in the number of enforced disappearances, which have become a systemic tool of repression by the russian FSB. Dozens of people disappear every year. The growing number of women among the victims is particularly worrying. The fate of Lera Dzhemilova and Tetiana Diakunovska (according to the initiative group “Crimean Process” — ed.), who were abducted almost a year ago, still remains unknown. The case of Anna Yeltsova, a student from Kherson, is also illustrative – the russian authorities kept her in complete isolation for years, without bringing any charges”, — Artem Oliinyk noted. 

CrimeaSOS emphasizes that enforced disappearances are a gross violation of human rights and are used by the occupation administration as means of intimidating the population. 

During the event, he also emphasized that enforced disappearances are not the only method of repression in the occupied Crimea. The russian authorities punish even for singing a Ukrainian song or criticizing the war: it can result in beatings, searches, arrests, and public humiliation “filmed” for propaganda. 

“These actions are justified by the fight against “discrediting the Armed Forces of the russian federation,” but in reality the courts are simply rubber-stamping the prosecution. At least 1,126 people have been victims of this policy since March 2022, and the number continues to grow”, — the expert emphasized. 

Artem Oliinyk raised the issue of religious freedom on the occupied peninsula. After all, religious communities in Crimea are systematically persecuted by the occupation special services. Searches, arrests, imprisonments, abductions, and falsified trials are their reality.  

In particular, Crimean Muslims are the most oppressed. Since the beginning of the occupation of Crimea, human rights activists have recorded 117 victims of criminal prosecution on the peninsula for “membership in the Hizb ut-Tahrir organization”, which is recognized a terrorist organization in the russian federation. In addition, 32 people have been persecuted for their involvement in the “Jehovah’s Witnesses” organization, 15 of whom have already been convicted. 

We would like to remind you that during 2024, CrimeaSOS recorded at least 6 new cases of enforced disappearances: 2 men and 4 women.   

It should be noted that signs of enforced disappearance include deprivation of liberty against the will of a specific person, involvement of state officials, at least indirectly, through tacit consent, refusal to acknowledge the fact of deprivation of liberty and to report the fate and whereabouts of a specific person. Such cases violate customary international humanitarian law and cannot be justified by any circumstances, including martial law.