Human rights defenders: 125 ‘religious’ cases initiated in Crimea over years of occupation

"In total, as of the end of June, the Crimean Human Rights Group recorded 125 administrative proceedings initiated under Article 5.26 of the Administrative Code of the Russian Federation over allegedly illegal missionary activity with a total fine of RUB 1,613,500 [UAH 602,300]," the Crimean Human Rights Group reports.

In particular, on June 1, "justice of the peace" Ullubiy Isayev fined the Church of Christians of the Evangelical Faith "Light of Peace" RUB 30,000 [UAH 11,200] for allegedly illegal missionary activity.

On June 8, "justice of the peace" Svetlana Vlasova fined Yusuf Ashirov, the imam of the Muslim religious community from Alushta RUB 5,000 [UAH 1,870] for praying without the permission of the "Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea".

As noted, in May 2021, this "judge" fined the same community RUB 30,000 for storing religious literature in the mosque.

The Crimean Human Rights Group recalls that such actions by the occupying authorities violate both the Fourth Geneva Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights, namely Article 9 on freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

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