28/05/2022 17:00

Russian occupiers obstruct advocacy in the temporarily occupied Crimea

russia continues to pressure and intimidate lawyers who provide legal assistance to victims of political repression in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

The so-called "Central District Court" of Simferopol in the temporarily occupied Crimea found Nazim Sheikhmambetov's lawyer guilty under Article 20.2.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the russian federation (organization of mass simultaneous stay and / or movement of citizens in public places that caused violations of public order)  8 days of administrative arrest.

These are the events of October 25, 2021, when Nazim Sheikhmambetov and other lawyers came to the russian police station to provide legal assistance to activists detained under the building of the russian-controlled Crimean Garrison Military Court for supporting the “Hizb ut-tahrir case”.

After the "court" hearing, the occupation police also detained lawyers Ayder Azamatov and Emine Avamilev, who were defending Nazim Sheikhmambetov.  They are accused of the same offense as Sheikhmambetov and could face up to 15 days in jail.  Lawyer Emine Avamilev was released on personal bail.

For two days on the Crimean peninsula, russian security forces detained four lawyers who have been helping victims of persecution since the first days of russian occupation.

All of them were left without legal support, which is a violation of the right to protection guaranteed by Article 13 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and a direct obstacle to professional advocacy.

By persecuting lawyers, the occupiers violate the provisions of Article 5 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which guarantees everyone the right to privacy, the 4th Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War and the European Convention on Human Rights.

I appeal to the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations during the russian Military Invasion of Ukraine to take into account these facts of human rights violations in Ukraine.