In the occupied Crimea, any manifestations of Ukrainian identity are severely suppressed

Manifestations of Ukrainian identity are being severely suppressed in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

This is evidenced by the results of a comparative analysis of court cases conducted by experts from the Crimean Process NGO.

More than half (56%) of all trials for displaying prohibited symbols and attributes concern supporters of Ukraine, and only their persecution is accompanied by moral humiliation, additional charges and aggressive information support in the propaganda media.

The activists analyzed 96 cases over the past six months, which were considered in the courts of Crimea. They took into account the punishment, the presence of additional charges, the facts of public humiliation and media coverage, as well as compliance with several procedural procedures. In terms of the nature of the violation, supporters of Ukraine came first, tattooed members of the criminal subculture AUYE came second, and only the third were people who demonstrated Nazi symbols.

"Our grandfathers fought Nazism, and our descendants are much more loyal to its manifestations than to people who demonstrate pro-Ukrainian views. Almost half of the "Ukrainian" cases have additional charges such as defamation, hooliganism, or resistance to police, while none of the cases involving Nazi propaganda have any such charges. One in four of those detained for their Ukrainian identity faces physical violence and the dissemination of videos of their moral humiliation, while only one case has been recorded among Nazi supporters over the past six months," the authors of the study noted.

The authors of the study also point out that the subject matter is somewhat ambiguous for a court sentence. For example, tattoo wearers of the banned criminal subculture were not sentenced to imprisonment at all, while the share of arrests for the "Ukrainian group" was the highest - at least 26%.

In the end, human rights activists conclude that anything is used as a "formal pretext and is used for any manifestation of sympathy for Ukraine." The comparative analysis in the Crimean case proved a noticeable discrimination in the consideration of "Ukrainian cases".

Any manifestations of Ukrainian national identity, patriotism or resistance to the occupation are seen by the Russian authorities as a threat to "stability" and "security". Even Verka Serdyuchka's songs.

"Under the guise of fighting extremism, the occupation authorities are introducing repressions aimed at intimidating the population and making them abandon their patriotic beliefs," the authors of the study emphasized.

12 years in prison. This is the sentence passed by Ukrainian judges on their colleague in occupied Crimea.

Олександра Горст