Crimea is among the most repressive regions: the largest number of criminal cases were opened against Crimean Tatars

Since Crimea joined the Russian Federation, 349 people have been involved in politically motivated criminal cases. Such data is presented in the OVD-Info report dedicated to repressions on the peninsula. This is the highest figure after Moscow.

Most often, Crimean Tatars are persecuted in Crimea on charges of participating in the Islamic party Hizb ut-Tahrir. Earlier, the Russian authorities recognized it as a terrorist organization, although it operated legally in Ukraine. Human rights activists believe that the party received this status without reason. In total, cases of involvement in Hizb ut-Tahrir have been opened against 127 people in Crimea, 106 of whom are in prison. The defendants in such cases are given long prison terms - up to 20 years.

Another category of people who are often subject to criminal prosecution in Crimea are Jehovah's Witnesses. 38 people have become defendants in cases of involvement in their communities. Cases against believers are initiated on the basis that they simply attended religious services.

Also, 38 criminal cases were initiated against opponents of the war with Ukraine. Among them, as of March 2025, 8 cases were initiated under the article on discrediting the army, 5 - under the article on military "fakes".

A separate area of ​​criminal prosecution in the occupied territory of Crimea is accusations of espionage in favor of Ukraine. In total, from 2022 to March 2025, at least 42 cases under the article on treason, 6 cases under the article on confidential cooperation with foreigners, and 8 cases under the article on espionage were received by Crimean courts.

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