Crimean Tatars: suppression, intimidation, fear and distrust

• Page 4: “As the de facto [Russian-backed] government came into power, it intensified the repression of the Crimean Tartars and pursued a policy of isolation and discrediting prominent figures of the Crimean Tartar community and the members of the Majlis [Crimean parliament].  Their homes were raided and they were systematically called in for questioning.  After the annexation, there was a serious decline in the exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms, such as the right of assembly and demonstration, and the freedom of expression.  The de facto authorities pursued a systematic policy of suppression and intimidation.”

• Page 5: “People opposed to the new [Russian] administration were accused of extremism and subjected to torture and abduction by persons unknown”.

• Page 5: “It was also observed that the changes regarding the education and diploma procedures of Crimean Tartar language teachers form obstacles for Crimean Tartar language education.”

• Page 5: “A suppression policy exists aimed at spreading fear and distrust in their neighbourhoods where Crimean Tartars are settled.”

• Page 8: “It was seen that following the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation there has been a number of unsolved killings and disappearances, some of which were observed by eye-witnesses.”

• Page 8: “Resat Ametov’s killing is the most known incident in this regard because there is a video shooting of his kidnapping on 3 March 2014 and his body was found on 16 March 2014.  It was reported that he was tortured and his eyes were gouged out.”

• Page 10: “Prominent Crimean Tartars in Crimea are also accused of extremism, inciting people to rebel and setting up an organisation aimed at this, and have been subjected to systematic and arbitrary interrogation and arrests on these grounds.”

• Page 11: “The delegation members who followed the official programme observed that almost all the Crimean Tartars abstained from speaking in front of the members of de facto Crimean Authorities.  The delegation members who had contacts outside of the official programme noted that the Crimean Tartars who talked to them were concerned about themselves or their relatives being harmed after these interviews.”

• Page 12: “Following the open criticism of the Russia’s annexation of Crimea by the leading figures of the Majlis, Mustafa Kirimoglu (Cemilev) was banned from entering Crimea for five years from 22 April 2014.  Tatars in Crimea protested at the ban imposed on Mustafa Kirimoglu.  Following the protest, pressures on the Majlis members have increased.  On 5 July 2014, Refat Cubarov was also accused of extremism and his entry to Crimea was prohibited for five years.”

• Page 13: “The refusal by the Majlis members to cooperate with Russia led to an increase in the de facto authorities’ policy of oppression, intimidation and threats against them.  Evidence of the pressure includes systematic questioning of the members, home raids, abductions, and torture and the confiscation of the assets of the Crimea Foundation (Fond Crimea).”

• Page 16: “After the annexation of the Crimea, the pressure on and control of media intensified, which significantly curtails freedom of expression and freedom of information.  The Crimean Tartar media are severely affected by these developments.”

The report also includes at an appendix a list of the names of killed or “vanished” Crimean Tartars as established by the delegation during meetings with relatives and families during their visit  to Crimea.