Analytical reports about Crimea

Alternative report of the Coalition of NGOs on the implementation by Ukraine of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

In December–January, new charges were brought against Crimeans that are typical for politically motivated cases (treason, illegal possession/manufacture of ammunition and explosives). Yury Primov and Rustem Vaitov completed their unwarranted prison terms but now must also serve 8 years of administrative supervision. The human rights group Memorial has recognized 11 Crimean Tatars as political prisoners. Victims of politically motivated criminal prosecutions are denied medical help. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination urges Russia to stop discriminating against Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars in Crimea.

Human rights activists are monitoring developments in the case of Denis Kashuk, who was detained by the FSB in mid-December. Crimean authorities continue to ignore serious health issues of people involved in politically motivated cases. The Russian authorities barred an event dedicated to human rights in Crimea. Interpol refuses to investigate the brutal murder of activist Reshat Ametov in 2014. Experts state that it is highly likely that the actions of Russian security forces caused the death of the well-known human rights activist Vejie Kashka.

Russian border guards prevent Ukrainians from crossing the administrative border between occupied Crimea and mainland Ukraine and try to recruit them at checkpoints. The occupying authorities put pressure on opposition activists and deny medical help to defendants in politically motivated criminal cases. In November, most of the recorded violations related to defendants in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir case”. Russian-controlled local authorities interfere with the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s activities in Crimea.

In October, the occupying authorities committed 2 arrests of pro-Ukrainian activists in Crimea, 6 detentions, 2 visits to mosques, 1 search in relation to Crimean Tatars, and passed 1 criminal sentence against the Crimean Tatar. The Russian Federation grossly violates the human rights of defendants in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir cases”, as well as the norms of international humanitarian law, propagating military service in the Russian army, conscripting Crimean population and criminally prosecuting those who are refusing to serve.

In the sixth year of the occupation of Crimea, we have 146 politically motivated cases, 97 of which concern the indigenous population of Crimea - the Crimean Tatars, who maintain a pro-Ukrainian political position. Also, since the beginning of the occupation, there have been recorded 45 cases of forced disappearances. The total number of days of absence of those who have not yet been found is already reaching the point of almost seventy years. The total number of human rights violations by the Russian Federation in Crimea cannot be calculated. But the volume of information on human rights violations that activists managed to collect only during the first years of occupation, would be enough for an encyclopedia. Soon a book* was published, which was called “Encyclopedia of repressions in Crimea since the Russian annexation”, with extension by the second entry in 2019.

Evidence against defendants in multiple politically motivated criminal cases in Crimes has been falsified. The occupying authorities intimidate Crimean Tatars through baseless searches and detentions. Russian intelligence officials are trying to recruit Ukrainians. Conditions in the temporary detention centers do not meet even minimum standards. UN member states have condemned illegitimate municipal elections in Crimea.

A campaign to militarize the education of school-age children is underway on the Crimean peninsula. The Russian occupiers limit Crimean Tatars right to freedom of peaceful assembly and religion.The Russiancontrolled authorities violate the rights of persons put in temporary detention centers and prisons for political reasons and exert psychological pressure on them. There are numerous procedural violations in cases of alleged participation in "Hizb ut-Tahrir".