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The violation of the freedom of expression

More than 300 violations of journalists´ rights have been recorded by human rights activists from the beginning of the occupation. The large-scale process of rollback of the freedom of expression on the peninsula is carried out with the help of: legislation of Russian Federation on counteraction of extremist activity; criminal prosecution for calls for separatism; administrative prosecution of journalists; arbitrary detentions; physical attacks; threats; liquidation of independent media; blocking of alternative sources of information. 

Only 232 of 3000 media registered before the occupation sources were able to overpass the re-registration procedure. At the same time all 12 independent Crimean Tatar media outlets were forced to leave the peninsula due to the persecution.

On 10 December 2020, the «Supreme Court of Crimea» sentenced in absentia the owner of TV channel ATR Lenur Islamov to 19 years in a high-security prison; he was found «guilty» in «sabotage organization, the creation of illegal armed groups and calls to violate the integrity of Russia». 

On 20 April 2021, Russian occupation authorities fined the editor-in-chief of the «Qirim» newspaper Bekir Mamutov for publishing a report of UN Secretary General where the Crimean Tatar Majlis was mentioned.  

After displacing the independent media from occupied peninsula, Russia holds in prison 8 civilian journalists and one more under house arrest.  

On 10 March 2021, the «Radio Svoboda» associated journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko was detained under bogus charges. He was tortured and denied access to independent lawyers for a month. Russian prosecution seeks to sentence him up to 18 years.