The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a statement calling on Russia, as the occupying power, not to impede the free activity of press and media representatives on the territory of the temporarily occupied peninsula. This statement was the Committee’s response to the bold and illegal actions of the occupiers, who are trying to prevent objective coverage of the situation with human rights and freedoms in the occupied Crimea. The reason for the statement was the recent events with the illegal detention of 14 people who came to support Nariman Dzhelal and the Akhtemov brothers during the consideration of their appeal. Among them are Crimean Solidarity journalist Kulamet Ibraimov and Crimean Solidarity correspondent, Graty journalist and Crimean human rights activist Lutfiye Zudiyeva. In particular, Kulamet Ibraimov was illegally arrested for 5 days, and after that, an illegal search was conducted in his family’s house.  Lutfiye Zudiyeva was fined 12,000 rubles.

“Russia in the occupied Ukrainian Crimea continues to persecute journalists who are trying to throw light on the alarming human rights situation in the region. Their reporting is of great public importance and should not be obstructed,” said Gulnosa Sayeed, CPJ Europe and Central Asia Programme Coordinator.Statement by the Committee to Protect Journalists at https://cutt.ly/OwdjYX1o