In the 10 years since the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimean peninsula, Russia has sought to change its ethnic composition and suppress the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar communities. This is stated in a report by the human rights organization Amnesty International (AI), published on the tenth anniversary of the annexation.
The Russian Federation has systematically tried to eradicate Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar national identities by limiting or banning the use of Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages in education, the media, national holidays and other areas of life, as well as suppressing religious and cultural practices that do not correspond to those approved by Moscow, AI researcher pointed out. Ukraine Patrick Thompson. In addition, the pro-Russian “authorities” forcibly removed the population from Crimea and resettled the Russian civilian population there, the expert added.
Russian school curriculum
Moscow has pursued policies aimed at suppressing non-Russian identities throughout the peninsula, the AI report says. Thus, immediately after the annexation, Russia introduced its own school curriculum in Crimea, which “led to indoctrination and threats of reprisals against teachers, students and parents” who did not agree with this, it is further indicated. At the same time, the pro-Russian “authorities” are “systematically destroying Ukrainian-language education,” human rights activists emphasized.
Restrictions on freedom of religion
Over the past 10 years, Russia has significantly limited the right to freedom of religion and belief in Crimea, human rights activists point out. In particular, the Russian Federation has introduced legislation that makes prayer services, sermons and the distribution of religious materials outside special places or without official permission offenses. As of 2023, dozens of administrative cases have been brought against individuals for “illegal” missionary activities, and large fines have been imposed in more than 50 cases, the AI report says.
The report’s authors especially highlight the pressure on the Muslim population of the peninsula, the majority of which are Crimean Tatars. Russian law enforcement agencies have repeatedly disrupted Friday prayers in mosques and searched houses in search of religious literature, human rights activists note. “More than 100 Crimean Muslims were prosecuted on unfounded charges of terrorism and sentenced to imprisonment for up to 24 years, which they are serving in Russia,” AI emphasizes.
Pressure on the media
Independent media and journalists were attacked by pro-Russian “authorities,” and Ukrainian-language television and radio channels were taken off the air in March 2014 and replaced by Russian media, human rights activists added. In addition, the Russian Federation obliged all media outlets in Crimea to undergo re-registration in accordance with Russian legislation within 10 months. The popular ATR TV channel, broadcasting in the Crimean Tatar language, was forced to move to the territory of continental Ukraine and lost the opportunity to broadcast in Crimea, AI points out.
“For years we have been sounding the alarm about Russia’s crackdown on human rights in Crimea. Ten years later, we can take stock of the impact this has had on the peninsula,” Amnesty International said. Experts do not rule out that Moscow has the same plan for other occupied Ukrainian territories. AI called on Russia to immediately stop violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Crimea and the occupied territories of Ukraine.
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2024-03-26 00:33:35