Russian security forces conduct illegal searches in occupied Crimea

In the first quarter of 2026, 7 searches were recorded in the temporarily occupied Crimea, 2 of which were against Crimean Tatars.

According to the analysis of the Crimean Tatar Resource Center (CTRC), the searches were conducted in January-March 2026 in different settlements of the peninsula.

In January, the occupation forces searched the homes of two 19-year-old residents of Akyar (Sevastopol) and Akmesdzhit (Simferopol). According to the available information, criminal cases were opened against them under articles of the so-called "terrorist nature".

In February, searches took place in the houses of Galina Privalova, Anna Moroz, Nariman Seitaliev and Yunus Suleymanov.

In March, the security forces searched the house of a resident of Alupka born in 1971, who is accused of allegedly publicly calling for terrorism.

Information on these cases is being clarified.

The CTRC also noted that over the same period in 2025, 13 human rights violations were recorded in the occupied Crimea (7 against Crimean Tatars), and in 2024 - 33 (28 against Crimean Tatars).

In general, human rights activists document large-scale human rights violations in the occupied Crimea. According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center (CTRC), in 2025, they recorded hundreds of detentions, searches, and cases of unfair court decisions, which indicate a systemic violation of basic freedoms for Crimeans, especially the Crimean Tatar people.

Residents of Crimea were detained on suspicion of involvement in organizations banned in the Russian Federation, for "discrediting the Russian Armed Forces", "espionage", "treason", "terrorist act", etc.

The situation of Crimean political prisoners is particularly alarming. According to the CTRC, 10 of them have disabilities, at least 28 are elderly, and inadequate conditions of detention have already led to deaths.

Олеся Ланцман