Increasing Persecution of Crimean Muslims by Russia: Human Rights Report Reveals Alarming Trends
A recent report by the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group highlights escalating political and religious persecution of Muslims in Crimea, particularly Crimean Tatar Muslims.
The report, as quoted by Jurist News, indicates that since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, there has been a notable increase in repression against these communities.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) initiated a “conveyor belt of persecution” in 2015, targeting those opposing Russian rule. Prominent figures, such as Akhtem Chiygoz, a leader of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, were arrested on dubious terrorism charges. Following his arrest, four other Crimean Muslims faced similar fates, with Ruslan Zeytullaev receiving a 15-year prison sentence based on fabricated evidence.
The report underscores the use of lengthy sentences to silence civil activists and their families, often relying on unverifiable testimonies from FSB-affiliated “experts.” In 2023, the Russian Supreme Court issued a secret ruling designating the transnational Muslim organization Hizb ut-Tahrir as “terrorist,” despite its legal status in Ukraine and lack of evidence for such claims.
This application of Russian domestic laws in occupied Ukrainian territory raises concerns about violations of international law. Under international humanitarian law, occupying powers cannot impose new legislation that undermines the rights and civil life of the occupied population. The report calls for urgent international attention and action to address these human rights abuses.
