Russians Persecute Women in Occupied Crimea: 28 Cases Documented

In the occupied Crimea, Russians are actively persecuting the local population. The occupation authorities open about half of all administrative cases against women.

According to the Representative Office of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, at least 28 women have been prosecuted during the 11 years of occupation. Some of them are still in prison - Iryna Gorobtsova, Valeria Goldenberg, Iryna Danylovych, Halyna Dovgopola, Nina Malakhova, Oksana Senezhuk, Hanna Sukhonosova. Others are under constant pressure from the occupiers: some are under investigation or on "probation". Some, though already released, are forced to leave their native peninsula.

On May 1, 2014, Ukrainian artist from Kerch Maria Kulikovska held an action in Moscow that became a symbol of defiance and the desire for freedom. Her performance with the Crimean flag, which she washed in the Moscow River, symbolized not only the loss of the peninsula's identity under occupation, but also the unbreakable will of Ukrainians to resist. The artist's brave act is not the only example of the resistance of women whose struggle for rights and freedoms in the occupied Crimea continues every day.

Mumine Saliyeva is a human rights activist and the wife of Crimean political prisoner Seyran Saliyev. After her husband's arrest, she became the coordinator of the Crimean Childhood project, which helps children of political prisoners. Mumine actively speaks at international platforms, including the OSCE, drawing attention to repression in Crimea. Her struggle is important because it gives a voice to those who are being silenced and supports families suffering from the occupation authorities.

Irina Danilovich is a Ukrainian citizen journalist illegally imprisoned in Crimea. She suffers from serious health problems, including a part of her body that is numb after a microstroke, as well as hearing problems and severe pain. Despite this, she does not receive proper medical care. Iryna's struggle is important because she has become a symbol of resistance to repression against Ukrainians in the occupied Crimea.

Galina Dovgopola is a pensioner from Crimea who became one of the oldest political prisoners because of her pro-Ukrainian position. In 2019, she was illegally detained on trumped-up charges of "high treason," and all trials were held in secret. Despite her age and health problems, she remains a symbol of resilience in the fight against the occupation. Her story testifies to the repression of those who openly advocate for the defense of Ukraine.

In total, since 2017, 10,018 violations of fundamental human rights have been recorded in the Russian-annexed Crimea, 6,730 of which were against members of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. According to the human rights organization CrimeaSOS, 117 people are being persecuted in the annexed Crimea for belonging tothe Hizb ut-Tahrir organization, 108 people are currently in penitentiary institutions, 3 are under house arrest, 84 people have received illegal convictions and another 5 have served illegal prison terms.

Олеся Ланцман