❌

Vue lecture

✇Euromaidan Press
↗️

Inside occupied Crimea: torture, disappearances, and total suppression of dissent

Par :Yuri Zoria

inside occupied crimea torture disappearances total suppression dissent ukrainsky kurier khpg crimea-occupation-poster 20 freedom house called democratic governments prioritize rights dignity civilians living under russian occupation ukraine particularly where repression

On 20 June, Freedom House called for democratic governments to prioritize the rights and dignity of civilians living under Russian occupation in Ukraine, particularly in Crimea, where repression, forced assimilation, and abuse continue to escalate.

This comes amid Russia’s major escalation of ground assaults and air attacks in Ukraine, while US President Donald Trump has pushed for Kyiv-Moscow peace talks for months, allegedly to end the ongoing Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Although Moscow’s wartime economy is under pressure from G7 sanctions, it continues to find ways to circumvent them, while Trump has delayed the imposition of new US sanctions against Russia.

Freedom House presented its first-ever Alfred Moses Liberty Award on 20 May to Crimean Tatar human rights defender Server Mustafayev. A cofounder of the Crimean Solidarity movement, Mustafayev supported victims of political persecution in Crimea after Russia’s 2014 occupation and annexation. Russian authorities imprisoned him in 2020 on terrorism charges widely considered fabricated. He is currently serving a 14-year sentence in Russia.

In a 2023 letter published by Freedom House, Mustafayev described the situation in occupied Crimea:

“The Russian Federation actively, without wasting time, destroyed all dissent, activism, journalism, and justice in Crimea. […] Dozens of people disappeared, hundreds were arrested, thousands were forcedly expelled from their native home (Crimea), homes they returned to after the genocide and deportation of 1944.”

Suppression of identity and indoctrination of children

The report highlights Russia’s ongoing campaign to forcibly Russify occupied territories. In Crimea, this includes cultural suppression and indoctrination of Ukrainian children through militarized camps. These practices, according to Freedom House, threaten to leave generational scars.

The 2025 Freedom in the World report gave Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories a score of −1 out of 100, indicating near-total denial of civil liberties and political rights.

Despite systemic persecution, many human rights defenders continue their work. Freedom House emphasized the importance of resistance efforts, even under extreme conditions where individuals risk arrest for small acts such as posting a Ukrainian song or wearing national colors.

People-centered diplomacy essential for peace

Freedom House argued that any peace deal must not merely focus on land but prioritize the people affected. It warned that recognizing Russian sovereignty over occupied Ukrainian territories would violate the core principle of international law that borders cannot be changed by force.

The group added that legitimizing occupation could send a message that “the democratic world had sided with the aggressor and abandoned them to their fate.”

Freedom House noted that Moscow has consistently undermined peace negotiations with escalating attacks and a lack of genuine engagement. The organization believes only strong military and diplomatic pressure, including enhanced sanctions, might force Russia into serious negotiations.

Calls for global action and support

To support those under occupation, Freedom House proposed several measures:

  • Nonrecognition of Russia’s claim to Ukrainian territories, akin to the West’s stance during the Soviet occupation of the Baltics.
  • Support for activists, including sanctions on Russian officials and direct aid via Ukrainian partners.
  • Aid for families of political prisoners, who face severe financial and legal burdens.
  • Amplification of Ukrainian advocacy by international NGOs and governments.
  • Documentation of abuses, including torture, disappearances, and destruction of cultural heritage.
  • Cultural preservation, particularly of Crimean Tatar language and history, through education and partnerships.

“However the war or peace negotiations unfold,” Freedom House stressed the importance of upholding sovereignty, rule of law, and human rights. 

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. 
❌