In Crimea, the situation for many, like Lutfiye Zudiyeva, a Crimean Tatar and a human rights activist, has become increasingly challenging under Russia's decade-long occupation. Zudiyeva, who has faced multiple arrests since 2019, recently shared a video of a search at her home conducted by men in green fatigues, emphasizing her preparedness for such events.
The oppression in Crimea under Russian rule includes arrests, searches, torture, and repression, particularly affecting areas with Crimean Tatar communities. The Crimean Tatars, considered the region's indigenous people, have a history of persecution, including Stalin's deportation of them from Crimea in 1944.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the situation has deteriorated further, according to human rights lawyer Emil Kurbedinov, who himself has faced harassment. He highlights a rise in cases of kidnapping and detention without trial, often under the pretext of fighting terrorism.
Russian authorities have been accused of using terrorism as an excuse to target dissenters, including religious figures, journalists, and individuals expressing discontent. Kurbedinov believes these arrests are a tactic to suppress opposition and dissenting voices.
Login