Growing repression in Crimea: results of 2024 and possible challenges of 2025 

The intensification and worsening of human rights violations in the occupied Crimea may continue into 2025. This was stated by the head of the board of CrimeaSOS Oleksii Tilnenko in an interview for QIRIM.News.  

“While about 600 cases under the article on discrediting the russian army had been transferred to the occupation courts by the end of 2023, their number had already exceeded 1,100 a year later. In my opinion, this trend will continue, and the number of such cases will increase”, – Oleksii noted. 

Oleksii Tilnenko also emphasized that repressions against independent Muslim communities, independent journalists, and lawyers were intensifying.  

Particularly worrying is the situation with politically motivated prosecutions, which are gaining momentum, in particular under the guise of criminal cases on “high treason” and “confidential collaboration.” Given this, the human rights activist says, the number of political prisoners could increase significantly.  

Another serious challenge is the increase in cases of enforced disappearances. In particular, people disappear after searches, and their further fate often remains unknown. 

Despite all the repression, the residents of Crimea continue resisting the occupation regime. Oleksii Tilnenko notes that despite the pressure from the occupiers, he sees no prerequisites for the complete suppression of this resistance. 

As a reminder, CrimeaSOS has recorded at least 66 victims of enforced disappearances in Crimea since the beginning of the russian occupation. The fate of 21 of them still remains unknown, 6 were found dead, 1 person was extradited abroad, 7 were charged with a crime, and 31 persons were released within a few days.