Russian authorities force Crimean Solidarity human rights movement to cease operations

The Crimean human rights movement Crimean Solidarity has announced that it has been forced to cease operations, its website and social media pages will no longer be updated after Russia designated the organisation a "foreign agent" on 26 June.

Source: Tamila Tasheva, MP and former permanent representative of the president of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Quote: "This decision is an act of pressure through which the occupying authorities are seeking to isolate and discredit human rights defenders, while intensifying repression against the independent movement and our fellow citizens. Over the past 10 years, Crimean Solidarity communicated with people every day, supported them during searches, arrests and personal losses, and preserved unity where it was systematically being destroyed.

Throughout this time, the movement documented the stories of those subjected to persecution, supported the families of detainees, provided legal assistance and spread the truth that remained outside the official agenda. Many activists who helped victims of political repression were themselves repeatedly fined and unlawfully persecuted, while some of our fellow human rights defenders, journalists and volunteers remain unlawfully imprisoned to this day."

Details: Tasheva said it is difficult to comprehend the consequences of the decision. Hundreds of families of political prisoners, Ukrainian citizens being unlawfully detained and thousands of people in occupied Crimea have now been left without support and essential legal assistance.

The MP called for continued efforts to fight for every Ukrainian citizen and for increased international pressure on Russia.

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