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Human Rights of Crimean Tatars Oppressed by the Russian Federation

On March 18, 2014 the Russian Federation annexed Crimea from Ukraine. After Russia’s rule began, Crimean Tatars, a Muslim community native to Crimea, were targeted as extremists. Human rights violations including freedom of expression and freedom of association have escalated since then. Crimean Tatars and the LGBT community in Crimea are being cauterized and persecuted.

Sources to Consult


Ideas for helping out with the issue

  1. Human rights advocates in Crimea are calling out for publicity of these issues– especially the captivation of two peaceful Tatar activists. Use your voice and discuss these issues with friends, family, and on social media.

“Backing Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity, UN Assembly Declares Crimea Referendum Invalid.” United Nations News Centre. 27 Mar 2014. Web. 4 Feb 2017. http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47443#.WJZcMrYrK8o. UN News Article about declaration of invalidity of Crimean Referendum. “Crimean Authorities Accuse Ukraine Regime of Human Rights Violations in New Resolution.” RT News. 16 Jan 2017. TV-Novosti. Web. 4 February 2017. https://www.rt.com/politics/373850-crimean-authorities-accuse-ukraine-regime/. Social and political authorities in Crimea accuse Russian-occupants of violation of essential human rights. “Crimea: Human Rights in Decline.” Human Rights Watch. 17 Nov 2014. Human Rights Watch. Web. 4 Feb 2017. https://www.hrw.org/news/2014/11/17/crimea-human-rights-decline. Review of testimonials of Crimean Tatars describing how they view their human rights have been oppressed during the conflict. “Crimea Tatars Block Peninsula to Protest Russian Annexation.” Al Arabiya. 20 Sep 2015. Al Alrabiya Net. Web. 4 Feb 2017. http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/world/2015/09/20/Crimea-Tatars-block-peninsula-to -protest-Russian-annexation.html. Crimean Tatar soldiers and civilian activists block the peninsula off from the rest of Ukraine to protest the Russian annexation. “Crimean Tatars: Refusing to Give False Testimony Against Leader, Activists Remain Imprisoned.” Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. 27 Oct 2016. UNPO. Web. 4 February 2016. http://unpo.org/article/19595. A moving story about two Crimean Tatars who refused to denounce the Tatar leader, even when bribed with the reward of being freed from jail. Human Rights Decline in Crimea. HumanRightsWatch. YouTube. YouTube, 16 Nov. 2014. Web. 04 Feb. 2017. Testimonials by Crimean Tatars describing their oppressed human rights. Julie Fedor. “Russian Media and the War in Ukraine.” Journal of Soviet and Post-Soviet Politics and Society. Vol. 1. 2015. Web. 4 February 2017. https://cup.columbia.edu/book/journal-of-soviet-and-post-soviet-politics-and-society/978 3838207261. A journal entry about Russian media correspondence to the war in the Ukraine and the media’s overall perspective on Crimea. Klymenko, Andrii. “Human Rights Abuse in Russian-Occupied Crimea.” Atlantic Council. Mar 2015. Freedom House. Web. 4 February 2017. https://freedomhouse.org/sites/default/files/CrimeaReport_FINAL.pdf. An all-inclusive, comprehensive, extremely well-written article about current human rights abuse in Crimea. This is the best article for learning about these issues Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The White Book on Violations of Human Rights and the Rule of Law in Ukraine. Vol. I – III. Nov 2013 – Nov 2014. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. Web. 4 Feb 2017. http://www.mid.ru/en/diverse/-/asset_publisher/8bWtTfQKqtaS/content/id/698433. An official series of documents written by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation regarding the violations of human rights in Ukraine and particularly Crimea. Osborne, Samuel. “UN Accuses Russia of Multiple Rights Abuses in Crimea.” Independent. 16 Nov 2016. Independent Press. Web. 4 Feb 2017. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/russia-ukraine-crimea-putin-human-rig hts-abuses-un-accusations-claims-a7421406.html. A news article about the UN’s accusation of Russia for abusing human rights of citizens in Crimea. Pakhomenko, Varvara. “World Report 2016: Russia.” Human Rights Watch. Feb 2014. Human Rights Watch. Web. 4 Feb 2017. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2016/country-chapters/russia#60e6d6. A brief timeline of sociopolitical happenings in Russia during 2016. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Report on the Human Rights Situation in Ukraine 16 February to 15 May 2015.” 15 May 2015. United Nations. Web. 4 February 2016. http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Countries/UA/10thOHCHRreportUkraine.pdf. A fairly comprehensive report on human rights violations in Crimea from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “Putting a Stop to Impunity Human Rights Violations in Crimea.” Crimean Human Rights Group. Mar 2016. Freedom House. Web. 4 Feb 2017. http://humanrightshouse.org/noop/file.php?id=21544. An article from Human Rights House about human rights violations in Crimea. REUTER. Russian security forces attempt to block the way of Crimean Tatars crossing a checkpoint in May 2014. Digital image. N.p., May 2014. Web. 4 Feb. 2017. An image of Russian security forces on the brink of acting violently to Crimean Tatars. Sharkov, Damien. “Who Are the Crimean Tatars?” Newsweek. 14 May 2016. IBT Media. Web. 4 February 2017. http://www.newsweek.com/who-are-crimean-tatars-459844. A brief history of the Crimean Tatars. “Timeline: Escalation of the Crisis in Crimea.” Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. 17 Feb 2016. Penguin Platforms. Web. 4 Feb 2017. http://unpo.org/article/17122. UNPO Timeline of the Crimean War. “Ukraine Crisis: Timeline.” BBC News. 13 Nov 2014. BBC. Web. 4 Feb 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26248275. A BBC News timeline of the Crimean War. Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization. 2017. Web. 4 Feb 2017. http://www.unpo.org. An NGO in support of defending human rights in Crimea. USOSCE Public Affairs Office. “Human Rights Violations in Crimea Must Stop.” U.S. Mission to the OSCE. 8 Sep 2016. U.S. Mission to the OSCE. Web. 4 February 2017. https://osce.usmission.gov/ending-impunity-in-crimea/. An Article from USOSCE advocating for human rights of people in Crimea. Willet, Mischa. “Poetry of the Crimean War.” Mischa Willet. 10 Mar 2014. Web. 4 February 2017. http://www.mischawillett.com/everything/3/poetry-of-the-crimean-war. A brief analysis of poetry from the Great Crimean War and how it may be applied to the conflict in Crimea today.

Human Rights Of Crimean Tatars Oppressed By The Russian Federation
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