1. Analysis of human rights violation in
the occupied Crimea for the first six
months of 2016
Created by Crimean Tatar Resource Center
2. Right to life, freedom, safety and personal integrity
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
January (0) February (0) March (0) April (1) May (1) June (1)
VICTIMS
A burnt corpse of a Crimean Tatar Enver Ismailov was found in Crimea in April. A Crimean Tatar Mumine
Alieva was raped and murdered in Iziumovka village in Kirovskii district in May.
A body of Dzhokhar Meliasanov, 19 years old, was discovered near Ai-Petri mountain in June.
3. Right to life, freedom, safety and personal integrity
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
January (2) February (1) March (0) April (1) May (1) June (1)
MISSING PEOPLE
Ernest Abliazimov and Elvir Razakova who had gone missing in January, were found. Marsel Aliautdinov
went missing on February 11 in Simferopol. Arsen Aliev went missing (kidnapped) on April 11 in Saky
town. Ervin Ibrahimov, a member of executive committee of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars went
missing (kidnapped) in Bakhchysarai on May 25.
4. Right to life, freedom, safety and personal integrity
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
January (4) February (18) March (3) April (37) May (45) June (5)
ILLEGAL ACTIONS OF THE OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES
INTERROGATIONS
There was interrogations dynamics observed in April and May. Meeting of executive committee of the World
Congress of Crimean Tatars was taking place in that time – April 11-13 in Lithuania. In May Crimean Tatars
traditionally hold mass events dedicated to the deportation.
5. Right to life, freedom, safety and personal integrity
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
January (3) February (18) March (8) April (46) May (14) June (2)
ILLEGAL ACTIONS OF THE OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES
SEARCHES
Mass searches in Crimean Muslims' houses took place on February 11, resulting in four people accused of
involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir. Following the meeting of executive committee of the World Congress of
Crimean Tatars on April 11-13 in Lithuania dramatic increase in number of searches was observed. For
instance, mass searches took place on May 12 in Bakhchysarai (Salachik). Searches in mosques, schools and
in Crimean Muslims' houses.
6. Right to life, freedom, safety and personal integrity
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
January (2) February (5) March (1) April (2) May (8) June (3)
ILLEGAL ACTIONS OF THE OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES
ARRESTS
Crimean Muslims were arrested as a result of mass searches in February, being accused of involvement with
Hizb ut-Tahrir. Surge of arrests was observed on the eve of May 18, the anniversary of Crimean Tatar people
deportation. For instance, Crimean Muslims were arrested on May 12 following searches in Bakhchysarai.
accused of involvement with Hizb ut-Tahrir. Moreover, self-proclaimed Crimean Court has been dismissing
appeals and continuing detention for Akhtem Chiigoz, Muedin Alivapov and the others.
7. Right to life, freedom, safety and personal integrity
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
January (1) February (18) March (3) April (36) May (39) June (5)
ILLEGAL ACTIONS OF THE OCCUPATION AUTHORITIES
DETENTION
Detentions in the occupied Crimea turned massive. A journalist Zayir Akadyrov was detained in January. Security
forces detained a number of Crimean Muslims in February as a result of mass searches. Russian intelligence services
detained activists of Ukrainian Culture Centre on entering Crimea. On April 1 armed people detained and took to
investigative committee 35 Crimean Tatars in Pionerskoe settlement (Simferopol). 25 Crimean Tatars were detained
and interrogated on May 7 in Evpatoria. On May 18 security forces detained participants of motor rally
commemorating the deportation victims. Border guards detained Zayir Akadyrov and Ali Ozenbash on May 30.
8. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
January (0) February (1) March (9) April (2) May (2) June (1)
VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO MOVEMENT
On February 25 Russian intelligence services denied entry to Crimea to a Ukrainian journalist Anastasia
Ringis. The biggest number of violations of the right to movement was registered in March. For instance,
residents of Novoalekseevka, Rustem and Bekir Gugurik, Bilial Seitumerov were forbidden Crimea until
2021. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation obliged all the inhabitants of Crimea to
change Ukrainian number plates not later than April 1. On May 12 Iliya Umerov was undertaken not to leave
without permission.
9. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
January (2) February (2) March (5) April (3) May (6) June (2)
VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF
RELIGION OR OPINION
Crimean Eparchy of Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kyiv Patriarchate is subject to regular repressions on part
of the occupation authorities. In January security forces surrounded the mosque of Islamic Culture Center in
Simferopol and searched it. A resident of Sevastopol received a 3 year suspended prison sentence in March
for posting on social media. A teacher at a Crimean school was making children to watch a Russian
propaganda video “Crimea. Coming back to Motherland” during the class. In a Belogorsk school children
were forbidden to dance a national Crimean Tatar dance.
10. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
January (0) February (0) March (2) April (0) May (4) June (1)
VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF
PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY
On March 7 Simferopol town administration ordered prohibition of mass, public, cultural and
entertainment events. Ukrainian Culture Center in Crimea was denied holding a meeting in the honour of
Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko in March. Increase in number of peaceful assemblies prohibition is
registered in May. Before May 18 self-proclaimed local Crimean authorities denied activists a right to hold
a mourning rally commemorating the victims of Crimean Tatar people deportation.
11. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
January (1) February (1) March (4) April (1) May (4) June (3)
VIOLATION OF THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF
OPINION AND EXPRESSION
A number of Ukrainian mass media, information agencies were blocked in Crimea during the period of
occupation. “More” radio station was prohibited to broadcast Ukrainian artists’ songs. Multiple cases of
people being detained for posting on social media were registered.
12. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
January (0) February (4) March (6) April (7) May (7) June (1)
RIGHTS OF MINORITIES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
A spike in the number of indigenous people’s rights violations was observed in April and May. It is related to
the meeting of executive committee of the World Congress of Crimean Tatars on April 11-13 in Lithuania.
The following violations were registered: the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar People prohibition (though
administrative decision, and then court judgment), attack at Mejlis building in Simferopol, repeated acts of
vandalism, prohibition of Crimean Tatar symbols, people were “herded” to the events held by self-
proclaimed authorities.
13. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
January (1) February (3) March (18) April (19) May (13) June (13)
RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL AND DUE LEGAL
ASSISTANCE
The present diagram shows that judicial system in Crimea is not objective. Courts systematically illegally
continue detention and dismiss appeals during hearings. 14 people are illegally kept in prison on so-called
“Hizb ut-Tahrir case” , 3 people on so-called “February 26 case” and 3 people on so-called “Crimean case”.
Moreover, there are 4 individual cases of illegal detention.
14. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
January (0) February (2) March (2) April (2) May (4) June (1)
TRANSPORTING PRISONERS BEYOND THE LIMITS OF
CRIMEA (PRISONERS TRANSFER)
Oleh Sentsov and Oleksandr Kostenko were illegally transferred to Irkutsk and Cheliabinsk in February. Law rights
activists had no information of Oleh Sentsov’s location for two weeks. Following Oleh Sentsov’s arrival to Irkutsk
penal colony IK-1, he was sent to probationary ward. In April a political prisoner Hennadiy Afanasiev was serving
time in Syktyvkar, and Oleksandr Kostenko – in Kirov region in Russia.
Four defendants in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir case” – Ferat Saifullaiev, Nuri Primov, Rustem Vaitov and Ruslan Zeitullaev
were transferred to Rostov-na-Donu in May.
Khaiser Dzhemilev is serving a sentence in Rostov-na-Donu. Ukrainain consul is denied a possibility to meet him.
15. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
January (0) February (1) March (0) April (0) May (0) June (0)
DEPORTATION
According to Yulia Tyshchenko, expert at Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research, cases of
deporting orthodox monks for the passport regulations violation were registered in Crimea.
17. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
January (0) February (2) March (2) April (0) May (1) June (0)
THE RIGHT OF THE ENJOYMENT OF THE HIGHEST
ATTAINABLE STANDARD OF THE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL
HEALTH
Hennadiy Afanasiev was diagnosed blood infection in February. Nevertheless, the prison staff denied him medical care.
Oleksandr Kostenko developed amyotrophy of arm due to being denied medical care. Moreover, Hennadiy Afanasiev suffered
intestinal issues caused by quality of water and food in prison. According to lawyer Andriy Kolomiyets, his defendant sustained
tortures. It became known in May that Hennadiy Afanasiev was being victimize and he remains in punitive confinement all the
time. In June a political prisoner Aleksei was transported to Moscow for psychiatric examination. Health of Refat Alimov, the
defendant in the “Hizb ut-Tahrir” case, deteriorated, as rash and ulcers covered his skin.
18. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
January (1) February (4) March (4) April (7) May (3) June (2)
LAND AND PROPERTY RIGHTS
Crimean Eparchy of Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Kyiv Patriarchate suffers from constant pressure from the
occupation authorities. There are attempts to seize the building of the St. Volodymyr and Olga Cathedral in
Simferopol. Church-goers were thrown out of the cathedral in February. Repeated attacks at Mejlis building in
Simferopol were registered. Increase in land and property rights violation was observed in April. According to
Viacheslav Kyrylenko, museum pieces were illegally taken out of Crimea. Armed people tried to break into
the house of Ali Ozenbash’s father on April 5. Cases of illegal cession of land were registered in April.
Mosques were plundered many times.
19. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
January (0) February (1) March (5) April (10) May (3) June (2)
ILLEGAL CROSSING AND TRESSPASS OF ADMINISTRATIVE
BORDER
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine registers monthly activation of Russian military air forces on the
administrative border with the occupied Crimea. The diagram shows escalation of such incidents in April.
Illegal visits to the occupied Crimea are registered on the regular basis.
21. Right to life, freedom, safety and personal integrity
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Victims (3) Missing (5)
Total number of victims and missing people
22. Right to life, freedom, safety and personal integrity
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Interrogations (112) Searches (91) Arrests (21) Detentions (102)
Total number of illegal actions of the occupation authorities in
Crimea from January to June 2016
23. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Violation of the
right to movement
(15)
Violation of the
right to freedom of
religion or opinion
(20)
Violation of the
right to freedom of
peaceful assembly
(7)
Violation of the
right to freedom of
opinion and
expression (14)
Rights of minorities
and indigenous
people (25)
24. Fundamental freedoms violation
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
The right to a fair
trial and due legal
assistance (67)
Transporting
prisoners beyond
the limits of Crimea
(prisoners transfer)
(11)
The right of the
enjoyment of the
highest attainable
standard of the
physical and mental
health (6)
Land and property
rights (21)
Illegal crossing and
tresspass of
administrative
border (21)
25. Based on the present analysis, it is fair to say that all the
cases of rights violation in Crimea conducted by the
occupation authorities are purely political. Dynamics of
increase in number of repressions are related either to the
level of efforts of Crimean Tatars national movement or to
the historic dates traditionally celebrated by Crimean Tatars
through mass events. For instance, dramatic increase in
number of repressions was observed in April and May in
response to the meeting of the executive committee of the
World Congress of Crimean Tatars on April 11-12 in
Lithuania was observed. Another date was May 18 - the
day of Crimean Tatar people deportation.
These repressive actions aim at intimidating people and
preventing mass public actions.