The number of political prisoners in Crimea has increased dramatically over the year

There are 277 political prisoners in Russian prisons on the Crimean peninsula, most of whom are Crimean Tatars. Over the year, the number of prisoners on political grounds has increased, with many cases being concealed by the occupiers.

This was reported by the Crimean Tatar Resource Center.

According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, there are currently 277 political prisoners from Crimea in Russian prisons, including 157 representatives of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people. In total, since the beginning of the occupation of the peninsula, the CTRC has recorded 431 people who have been subjected to political persecution or so-called criminal cases, 249 of whom are Crimean Tatars.

Political prisoners and persecuted persons are divided into five categories according to their status:

• convicted and serving their sentences in penal colonies - 202 people (117 Crimean Tatars);
• restricted or on probation - 57 (28 Crimean Tatars);
• are in pre-trial detention centers - 75 (40 Crimean Tatars);
• released - 61 (36 Crimean Tatars);
• are being persecuted - 36 (28 Crimean Tatars).

According to the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, the rapid increase in the number of political prisoners is particularly alarming. A year ago, there were 334 of them, including 217 Crimean Tatars. Now this figure has increased by more than 100 cases in just one year. At the same time, the occupiers often conceal information about the detainees: their names, surnames, and case details remain unknown.

In addition, more than 100 Ukrainians accused of espionage and sabotage are being held in the occupied territories of Crimea, often with numerous human rights violations and torture. Occupation courts regularly hand down harsh sentences in trumped-up cases, continuing political repression against pro-Ukrainian citizens, including those who were detained on the peninsula in 2014.

Анна Бальчінос