UN monitoring mission finds human rights violations in the Crimea
On Wednesday, at the international Forum in Kyiv, Fiona Frazer, the Head of the UN Human Rights Mission to Ukraine stated that efforts are being made to suppress dissent or critical views on the peninsula, Interfax-Ukraine reports.
"The trend that we have seen over the last few years shows that there are actions aimed at suppressing any dissent and critical views on the peninsula,” Frazer said. She noted that the right to worship is restricted in the Crimea, especially concerning Crimean Tatars. Freedom of speech is also restricted through Russia's abuse of anti-terrorist legislation.
"We should acknowledge that Crimean Tatars are the primary victims of police and FSB raids conducted in their homes and places of public assembly,” she added. Frazer said there are many restrictions imposed on peaceful assemblies, but especially on those held by Crimean Tatars.
With regards to education and language, Frazer stated that the Crimean Tatar language remains stable in school education, while the possibility of education in Ukrainian language was significantly reduced.
After the annexation of the Crimea, Russia prohibited the activities of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People in the territory of the peninsula. According to a Mejlis leader, Ilmi Umerov, repressions continue to be enforced against those disloyal to the Russian authorities in the territory of annexed Crimea, and now there are about 80 political prisoners held in pre-trial detention centers and prisons.