06 June 2026

Journalist’s Day: How Russia Persecutes Independent Media in Occupied Crimea

June 6 is Journalist’s Day in Ukraine. Amid the ongoing occupation of Crimea, this date serves as a reminder of the systematic persecution of independent journalists, citizen reporters, and anyone who attempts to tell the truth about the situation on the peninsula.

Since 2014, Russia has de-facto destroyed the independent media in Crimea. The occupation “administration” has shut down Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar media outlets, conducted raids on newsrooms, blocked websites, and persecuted journalists for their professional activities and coverage of human rights violations.

Today, dozens of Crimean journalists and citizen journalists have been persecuted by Russia. Among those unlawfully imprisoned is citizen journalist Server Mustafaiev, coordinator of Crimean Solidarity, whom Russia sentenced to 14 years in prison in the Hizb ut-Tahrir case. Another political prisoner, journalist Remzi Bekirov, whom the occupation “court” sentenced to 19 years in prison for reporting on political repression in Crimea.

At least several dozen journalists and citizen journalists remain behind bars in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and in Russia. The pressure on journalists in Crimea is part of a broader Russian policy aimed at suppressing freedom of speech, intimidating society, and concealing human rights violations on the occupied peninsula.

On a Journalist’s Day, we express our gratitude to all Ukrainian journalists who continue to work despite the danger, documenting Russia’s crimes and bringing the truth about Crimea and the war to the whole world.