Russia has convicted more than 350 people during annexation of Crimea

The occupation authorities have strengthened restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly in Crimea, unlawfully using repressive Russian legislation for this end.

April 2014 - September 2018, 353 people were held administratively liable, 12 more were held criminally liable in the annexed Crimea, the Crimean Human Rights Group reports.

"Crimean ‘judges’ delivered 367 verdicts on administrative liability, of which 334 judgments related to fines for a total sum of RUR 3.942,500. The participants in peaceful assemblies were also subjected to administrative arrests (at least 22 such judgments were delivered) and public works (11 judgments)," reads the report.

In particular, eight verdicts were pronounced in the "case of February 26" (Akhtem Chiygoz was sentenced to 8 years in a high security colony but released after pronouncement of the verdict as a result of political negotiations; 7 other defendants received a suspended prison sentence).

In the case of May 3, four sentences were pronounced (three sentences on suspended prison sentence, one sentence on RUR 40,000 fine).

Prosecuting people for participation in peaceful assemblies, the Russian authorities violate Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights which guarantee freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

According to the Crimean Human Rights Group, the Russian Federation also violates the rights of people who refused to receive Russian passports on the territory of the annexed Crimea. These people are expelled as migrants who violated the conditions of stay in the country.

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