russia increases pressure on activists, lawyers, and journalists in occupied Crimea
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Mass arrests of activists, increased pressure on defense attorneys, and detention of journalists on the job – this is how the Crimean Solidarity non-profit describes the actions of the occupied Crimea’s security forces over the past month.
That’s according to Crimean Solidarity’s report posted on Facebook with reference to civic journalist Zidan Adzhikelyamov, ukrinform.net reports.
“This month we observed the flagrant behavior on the part of the security forces, who were detaining people who arrived at the courts … OMON pushed the activists into the bus, and then they were held at the police station,” Adzhikelyamov said.According to the journalist, those apprehended were charged under Article 20.2.2 and Article 20.6.1 of the russian Administrative Code for violations in setting up mass events and failure to comply with the demands of authorities in case of emergency or its threat, respectively.
Besides, Adzhikelyamov noted, the security forces detained Edem Semedliaev, a defense attorney who had arrived at the police station in Simferopol to provide legal assistance to the detained citizens.
As for detentions of journalists, Adzhikelyamov said they were an “alarming trend.”
According to the reporter, from September 4 to November 1 alone, seven journalists were apprehended in Crimea while performing their professional duties.
“In my opinion, the competent authorities, as well as human rights organizations, should assess these systematic violations of journalists’ rights and develop mechanisms to protect journalistic work, so I urge my colleagues not to leave these flagrant violations without publicity,” the Crimean Solidarity correspondent said.
He noted that at present, russia’s Southern District Military Court is hearing more than 10 criminal cases involving “terrorism” charges against Crimean Tatars.
“The judicial conveyor belt just doesn’t stop running against them, as dozens of Crimean Tatars are being targeted in criminal cases, accused of terrorism,” the journalist said.
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