QirimInfo

Six years of occupation have resulted in normal living conditions for only those in Crimea who are loyal to Russia. Crimean Tatars living in their homeland, religious organizations outside of Russian control, and human rights defenders unmask the utopian picture of happy life on the peninsula so painstakingly painted by Russian propaganda. On February 24, 2020, the team at CrimeaSOS released its second publication of “Encyclopedia of Repressions in Crimea Since the Beginning of the Russian Occupation,” which documents the litany of blatant human rights violations that have occurred. Our reporting documents how the Russian occupiers have violated Crimeans’ right to self-determination and freedom of religion as well as deliberately changed the demographics of the region in the six years since the occupation began.

The Russian authorities in Crimea have systematically violated human rights during the past six years of occupation. On February 24, 2020, the team at CrimeaSOS released its second publication of “Encyclopedia of Repressions in Crimea Since the Beginning of the Russian Occupation” which documents the litany of blatant human rights violations that have occurred. Our reporting documents how the Russian occupiers have conducted illegal detentions and searches as well as violating Crimeans’ freedom of speech and assembly.

Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine. It’s not just a political slogan. For 5 years of annexation, the peninsula gradually acquires its original appearance before the opening of the North-Crimean Canal – the arid steppe with salt marshes. The senseless extraction of natural resources from the depths caused great damage to Crimea’s fragile ecosystem. Experts agree that Crimea will not survive without the Dnipro river. In addition, in August 2018, the negligence of the occupation authorities led to an environmental disaster in Armyansk. Suffering the same fate is a risk for Kerch. If the destructive processes do not stop, soon the once fertile resort peninsula will become uninhabitable and won’t ever look itself.