Extremists without evidence: new US report exposes repression of believers in Crimea

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a new report in which it documented Russia's systematic violations of the right to freedom of religion in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, in particular in Crimea.

This is stated in the report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The document notes that during 2025, the Russian authorities continued to persecute peaceful religious organizations, unreasonably declaring them "extremist," "undesirable" or "terrorist." However, as the authors of the report emphasize, such accusations are often not supported by any evidence of involvement in violence or illegal activities.

In addition to criminalization, the practice of banning certain religious groups continues in the occupied territories. The occupation authorities conduct searches in places of worship, seize religious literature and property, fine believers for "illegal missionary activities," and detain community leaders and their followers.

The report provides specific examples of persecution. In particular, in April, a Russian military court sentenced six Crimean Tatars: five of them received 14 years in prison, and another - 11 years, for alleged involvement in the Hizbut-Tahrir organization. In May, Crimean Tatar journalist and human rights activist Lutfiye Zudiyeva was added to the list of "foreign agents" because of her activities related to the coverage of repressions in Crimea.

In the conclusion of the document, the members of the commission called on the US government to officially recognize Russia as a "country of particular concern" due to systematic, prolonged and gross violations of religious freedom. They also recommend imposing targeted sanctions on the Russian entities and officials involved, including asset freezes and travel bans.

In 2024 alone, the occupation authorities conducted at least 15 searches in the homes of representatives of the Jehovah's Witnesses religious organization in Crimea.

In late February, a rally in support of Crimean Tatars was held in Odesa. The"Mute Cry" rally was dedicated to Crimean Tatar activist Reshat Ametov, who went on a single picket against Russia's occupation of Crimea on March 3, 2014, and disappeared.

Анна Бальчінос