A report of administrative offense was drawn up against Crimean Tatar human rights activist Lutfiye Zudiyeva for acting as a foreign agent

On August 27, in Simferopol, representatives of the "Ministry of Justice for the Republic of Crimea", established by the Russian authorities, drew up an administrative report against Crimean Tatar journalist and human rights activist Lutfiye Zudiyeva. The woman is charged with an administrative offense, qualified by the Russian authorities as "the activity of a foreign agent".

The report was published on the website of the NGO Women in Media.

According to the Russians, Lutfiya Zudiyeva was included in the "register of foreign agents" in May 2025. The reason for the inclusion was the numerous materials published by the journalist on social networks and media (Graty portal, CNN, etc.) about human rights violations in Crimea, Crimean Tatar political prisoners, and a number of interviews with international organizations.

The journalist is convinced that publishing comments or balanced texts about the situation in Crimea is not illegal. Zudiyeva states: "My texts always include the point of view of people affected by the repression and the position of the Russian authorities. That is why I do not believe that my activities are illegal and fall under the definition of a foreign agent."

However, the authorities regarded such activities as an administrative offense that does not contain signs of a criminal offense, but is subject to punishment under the Russian administrative code. According to the Russian "law enforcement", the journalist should have voluntarily reported that she was writing for foreign publications before being included in the register. All of the author's materials must be labeled "18+" and have the warning "THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) IS PRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED AND (OR) SENT BY A FOREIGN AGENT". The journalist is forced to report on her activities on a quarterly basis.

The protocol against the human rights activist was drawn up under Part 1 of Article 19.34 of the Russian Code of Administrative Offenses (carrying out the activities of a foreign agent without submitting a corresponding application).

Zudiyeva is trying to challenge in court the fact that she has been recognized as a foreign agent, but she realizes that her chances of getting justice are slim. The woman assumes that after the fall court hearing she will receive a fine, which in the hryvnia equivalent will be in the amount of 6 to 12 thousand.

We also recently wrote about a 45-year-old Crimean resident, Dmytro Myskov, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison for allegedly conducting intelligence activities in favor of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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