Crimea under occupation: 2024 Review

Key findings

• Evidence testifies about ongoing violations, including the exploitation of civilians as “human shields,” the strategic deployment of military infrastructure within densely populated civilian areas, and the involvement of civilians into performing military-related work.
• The occupying administration conducted two unlawful conscription campaigns in Crimea throughout 2024, forcibly inducting approximately 5,500 Crimean residents into the Russian armed forces. Since the commencement of the occupation, the total number of Crimeans illegally conscripted is estimated at around 50,000.
• Furthermore, occupation authorities actively engaged in the promotion of voluntary enlistment in the Russian army among students and encouraged participation in Russian “military-patriotic” movements among school and vocational school students.
• Since the beginning of the Russian occupation, at least 553 criminal cases have been initiated against individuals for draft evasion. The significant number (244) of these cases occurred after the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
• At least 1,642 Russian servicemen stationed in occupied Crimea have been reported dead since the full-scale war began. An average of 35 Crimean residents fighting on the Russian side perished monthly on the frontlines.
• In a clear violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and international legal norms, the Russian Federation unilaterally organized and conducted its presidential elections and elections to the unrecognised occupation authorities in Crimea during 2024.
• Enforced Disappearances: CrimeaSOS documented at least six new cases of enforced disappearances in 2024, involving two men and four women. Based on available information, FSB officers were involved in all six cases. In four of these instances, FSB officers detained victims following searches and transported them to unknown locations, denying their families any information regarding their legal status or whereabouts.
• Russian security forces conducted at least 45 arbitrary searches in Crimea throughout 2024. These actions disproportionately targeted specific groups, including 15 searches in houses of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 10 related to individuals involved in the politically motivated “Hizb ut-Tahrir cases,” 4 targeted journalists and 4 – veterans of the Crimean Tatar national movement. Such arbitrary measures appear to be a deliberate tactic to intimidate and silence independent religious communities, human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and anyone expressing dissent against the Russian occupation.
• CrimeaSOS identified at least 56 individuals in Crimea against whom illegal or questionable criminal proceedings were initiated in 2024. Some individuals are being prosecuted for actions that do not constitute crimes under the Ukrainian legislation. The most frequent charges levied include organizing or participating in the activities of Hizb ut-Tahrir (10 individuals), discrediting the leaders of the occupation administration and Russian military personnel (10), public calls for extremist activities (6), espionage (5), treason (5), confidential cooperation with a foreign state (4), and sabotage on railway infrastructure (4). These prosecutions often targeted individuals for their political or religious beliefs or their opposition to the occupation.
• In 2024, two political prisoners were released after completing their illegal sentences imposed by the occupation authorities, and two prisoners were released through exchanges.
• In 2024, courts of first instance issued illegal and questionable sentences against at least 66 individuals. The consideration of criminal cases was often accompanied by systematic violations of the right to a fair trial. The most common charges were treason, assassination attempts on representatives of the occupation administration, espionage, arson, and sabotage on various facilities. In most cases, the courts of appeal and cassation left the sentences unchanged.
• In 2024, at least 10 Crimean political prisoners were transferred to a pre-trial detention centre in Rostov-on-Don for illegal trials.
• In 2024, at least 34 Crimean political prisoners were transferred to colonies and prisons located in 21 federal subjects of Russia to serve their illegal sentences
• There have been cases in 2024 where Russian state institutions have refused to transfer prisoners closer to Crimea and have not informed their families about where they were being transferred to.
• In 2024, there have been cases of physical force used against illegally detained persons from the occupied territories of Ukraine.
• In 2024, at least 12 Crimean political prisoners were held in penal isolators.
• Various sources indicate a critical need for immediate medical care for 41 to 67 Crimean political prisoners. Furthermore, at least four individuals with medical conditions legally precluding their detention under Russian law are unlawfully imprisoned.
• Evidence exists of Russian security forces physically assaulting Crimean civilians for expressing dissent against the occupation, including listening to Ukrainian music, and chanting Ukrainian slogans.
• Occupation authorities in Crimea persist in their persecution of residents holding anti-war and pro-Ukrainian viewpoints. This is carried out through charges such as “discrediting the Russian army,” “demonstrating prohibited symbols,” “disrespecting Russian state symbols,” and other articles within the Russian Federation’s Code of Administrative Offenses.
• Between 2022 and 2024, “courts” in Crimea delivered 1,053 rulings on administrative liability for “discrediting the Russian army,” with 453 of these occurring in 2024 alone. The primary grounds for the administrative penalties were criticism of the full-scale invasion and/or expressions of support for Ukraine in public and online.
• The prevalent reasons for administrative arrests and fines related to “demonstrating prohibited symbols” included displaying the trident, uttering or writing “Glory to Ukraine!”, and possessing or sharing the song “Chervona Kalyna” (Red Viburnum).
• Numerous Crimean residents have faced simultaneous prosecution and penalties under multiple articles of the Russian Federation’s Code of Administrative Offenses simply for expressing their opinions.
• In 2024, two Crimeans were imprisoned under the Russian Criminal Code for repeated “discrediting of the Russian army.”
• Occupation authorities in Crimea utilized the Russian Federation’s Code of Administrative Offenses in 2024 to target and persecute journalists.
• The independent Crimean Tatar newspaper Qırım and its editor-in-chief, Bekir Mamutov, were collectively fined RUB 834,000 for three alleged administrative offenses.
• Human rights activist and journalist Lutfiie Zudiieva was fined within two cases for social media posts referencing “Radio Svoboda” and the “Hizb ut-Tahrir cases” without required marking.
• The systematic persecution of lawyers in occupied Crimea exacerbates the already dire situation for victims of human rights violations. Since the occupation, at least 13 independent lawyers on the peninsula have faced various forms of persecution.
• Lawyer Emil Kurbedinov was fined for a Telegram post concerning the illegal conscription of students with deferrals.
• Oleksii Ladin, a lawyer who was subjected to arbitrary search, arrest, and a fine in 2023, has been stripped of his lawyer status.
• Lawyers Rustem Kiamiliev and Lilia Hemedzhi, previously stripped of their licenses, were subjected to an arbitrary search. Following this, Rustem Kiamiliev was arrested for 10 days and fined RUB 50,000 for social media reposts made several years before.
• In 2024, occupation police issued “warnings” regarding the “inadmissibility of violating the law” to five human rights activists and lawyers.
• The independent Muslim community “Eski Qırım” faced a series of searches, culminating in a RUB 100,000 fine for alleged mass distribution of extremist materials.
• The “Supreme Court” of Crimea ordered the liquidation of the independent Muslim community “Alushta,” which had been repeatedly targeted by repression in previous years.
• In 2024, Russian security forces conducted at least 15 searches targeting Jehovah’s Witnesses and initiated criminal cases against two believers.
• Occupation authorities dismantled the dome of the main temple of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, demolished another temple belonging to the same denomination, and sealed a third.
• Between 2022 and 2024, the occupation administration “nationalized” approximately 3,500 property objects. This “nationalization” of Ukrainian-owned assets generated RUB 4.8 billion for the occupation administration’s budget.
• As a reward for their participation in the aggressive war against Ukraine, occupation authorities in Crimea transferred at least 2,548 land plots to Russian servicemen.
• In 2024, the occupation authorities imposed restrictions on employment, prohibiting individuals without Russian citizenship from working in 35 different sectors in Crimea.
• Reports emerged in Crimea detailing shortages of essential medicines and medical personnel. Furthermore, the treatment of wounded Russian servicemen in civilian hospitals was reportedly prioritized, negatively impacting the healthcare needs of the local civilian population.
• The occupiers established a development called “New Chersonese” on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, raising concerns about the preservation of cultural heritage.
• CrimeaSOS released a study “The Environment of Crimea: Changes and Losses during the Full-Scale War,” highlighting the detrimental environmental impact of the occupation and the ongoing conflict. The study details the exploitation of protected areas, the increased vulnerability of endangered species, water supply issues, uncontrolled construction, the environmental damage caused by hostilities and fortifications, marine pollution, and other significant ecological threats.