Amnesty International (AI) reported earlier this week that the residents of Crimea have undergone ten years of persistent oppression in the aftermath of the 2014 annexation by Russia. The annexation is marked by severe violations of human rights and international law.
The organization has highlighted that post-annexation, Russia has oppressed Crimea’s non-Russian residents, particularly Ukrainians and Crimean Tartars. The oppression is discernible in two significant aspects: an alteration in the region’s ethnic demographics and imposing restrictions on multiple facets of everyday life, such as education, religion, media, representative institutions, the judicial system, and cultural celebrations.
AI has stated concerns over Russian figures post its annexation, showing a decrease of Ukrainian residents by nearly 10 percent and Crimean Tartars by 2 percent. According to the organization, these numbers are inconsistent with the highest estimates of inhabitants who fled the peninsula in 2014. The reduced figures are likely due to ethnic Ukrainians now feeling compelled or choosing to identify as Russian, or a blend of both scenarios. Post-annexation, all non-Russian residents were granted Russian citizenship unless they opted out, which would then categorize them as “foreigners,” placing them at a disadvantage in terms of their economic, social, cultural, political, and civil rights.
Apart from demographic transformations, the oppressions extend to substantially undermining the rights of these minorities to access the Ukrainian language in schools, practice their religious beliefs freely, and develop their media representation. For instance, the Ukrainian language, taught to nine percent of children before annexation, has now fallen to less than one percent. The Ukrainian Crimean dioceses has been disbanded after its recent eviction in 2019, and other minority religions have been marginalized, including the region’s Muslim community and Jehovah’s Witnesses. A recent instance was reported by JURIST about a Jehovah’s Witness in 2021, who was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, as the group is deemed an extremist organization.
The UN and the EU declared the annexation transaction illegitimate, marking it as a controversial event in 2014. AI asserts that these systematic efforts in Crimea are a strategy to legitimize Russia’s illegal occupation in the region. The annexation was faced with a wave of sanctions targeting Russian politicians and the nation at large.
The organization has urged Russia to halt its violations of international humanitarian laws throughout Crimea. Despite international condemnation, in Moscow, the ten-year anniversary of Crimea’s annexation was commemorated with public celebrations.
The full report of these findings and concerns can be found on their website.