Analytical reports about Crimea

Crimeans are experiencing an acute shortage of fresh water. Russia is persecuting the community of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine in Crimea. The occupying authorities initiated 5 new politically motivated criminal cases. The de facto courts violate the right of political prisoners to a fair trial and undermine the adversarial nature of the criminal proceeding. In August, the number of COVID-19 infections has reached new record highs 6 times.

The Russian Federation illegally restricts Ukrainian citizens who cross the administrative border with Crimea. The occupying authorities conducted 8 searches, detaining 7 people and putting 1 person on a wanted list. A Crimean resident was sentenced to a prison term. CrimeaSOS recorded 7 cases of procedural violations against political prisoners. The staff of penitentiary facilities grossly violates the rights of at least 8 political prisoners. 3 Crimean political prisoners reported that they were coerced to vote in the illegal referendum to amend the Russian Constitution.

CrimeaSOS documented 17 cases of gross human rights violations in June. The situation with coronavirus in Crimea is a growing concern. The occupying authorities continue to prosecute Crimeans on religious grounds. The Russian Federation is trying to legitimize the occupation of Crimea on international platforms.

The occupying authorities searched the homes of four Jehovah’s Witnesses. A Ukrainian soldier disappeared near the administrative border with Crimea. Two Crimean Tatar political prisoners have been held in solitary confinement for more than 70 days. There have been documented cases of psychiatric hospital personnel exerting psychological pressure on two political prisoners. There is a coronavirus outbreak at the Lefortovo detention center.

Russian-controlled prisons and detention centers do not take measures to protect detainees from coronavirus, while the occupying authorities conceal the real number of infected individuals. Two Crimean imams are being prosecuted for practicing their religion. Two criminal cases were initiated against Crimeans and five Crimeans were charged, one person was sentenced. Russian border guards do not let Ukrainian citizens out of Crimea. The Russian authorities deport Ukrainians from Crimea and depossess Ukrainians of their property in violation of international law.

In March, the occupying authorities conducted searches in 9 Crimean Tatar homes in Crimea, resulting in 6 detentions. 3 victims of political prosecution completed their court sentences. Prison officials in Crimea and Russia do not take effective actions to combat coronavirus. New Russian legislation threatens to dispossess Ukrainian citizens in Crimea of their land ownership rights . The Russian Federation closed the administrative border between occupied Crimea and Kherson Oblast, Ukraine.

In February, Russian law enforcement detained five Crimeans. Russia continues to violate the rights of defendants in politically motivated cases: the accusations are based on inadmissible evidence, conditions in the detention centers do not meet even minimum standards, and medical assistance is not provided for people who have serious health issues. The FSB added three more Crimean Tatars to the list of defendants in the 2nd Simferopol “Hizb ut-Tahrir case”. An additional charge of preparation to commit a terrorist attack was added against pro-Ukrainian activist Oleg Prikhodko.

In 2019, CrimeaSOS recorded the largest number of criminal cases against Crimean Tatars since the beginning of the occupation. The number of violations of freedom of religion and the right to peaceful assembly has increased significantly in the course of the year. Russian border guards in occupied Crimea unreasonably detain activists that are crossing the administrative border between Crimea and mainland Ukraine and try to force Ukrainian citizens to agree to confidential cooperation with the Russian authorities. There is a distinct tendency toward militarization in the education of Crimean schoolchildren. The occupying authorities deny Crimeans the right to receive education in their native language. The occupying authorities violate Crimeans’ right to freely access information. The Russian Federation is trying to change the demographics of occupied Crimea.