Russians in Crimea kidnapped at least 104 pro-Ukrainian activists – UN

Photo: blurAZ1/DEPOSITPHOTOS

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine has documented 104 cases of kidnapping and 55 cases of torture of pro-Ukrainian activists by Russians in Crimea since 2014.

The mission emphasized that the Russian Federation illegally imposed its “citizenship”, “laws” and “institutions” on the population of Crimea in all spheres of life, suppressing opposition and dissent.

In particular, the leaders of the Crimean Tatars, who oppose the occupation of Crimea, were particularly affected by the repressions. it is said in the UN report dated February 28.

Many Crimean Tatars had to leave the peninsula, and the occupiers resettled Russians in their place. The UN called it “an obvious attempt to change the demographic structure of the peninsula.”

“Over the past decade, we have documented the Russian Federation’s efforts to impose the Russian language, culture and institutional framework on Crimea, as well as actions aimed at destroying the peninsula’s rich cultural, linguistic and religious heritage.”– says the head of the UN mission, Daniel Bell.

As a result of the repressive policy of the Russian Federation, only 0.1% of students in Crimea study in the Ukrainian language. Also, the invaders closed almost 80% of previously registered Ukrainian media.

The occupying “authority” in Crimea suppressed the freedom of conscience, expression of culture and identity of minorities, and also seriously limited the freedom of religion.

During the temporary occupation, the number of religious organizations registered in Crimea halved, the UN adds.

We will remind, last year in Kit was forbidden to raise the flag of the Crimean Tatars in schools.

In total, more than 5,000 human rights violations have been recorded on the peninsula since the beginning of the Russian occupation (as of October 2023).